TRANSPORT

Taxis

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the means by which (a) black cab drivers and (b) private hire taxi drivers can prevent passengers from smoking in their vehicles;
	(2)  if he will bring forward legislation to enable taxi drivers to enforce a no smoking policy on passengers in their vehicles;
	(3)  what research he has commissioned into the health impact on taxi drivers of secondary smoke inhalation from passengers who smoke in their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We consulted nationally on smoking in taxis in 1999–2000. In March 2001, we announced that while we recognised the merits of banning smoking in taxis, we did not consider that the case was sufficiently strong to make a commitment to legislate when parliamentary time permitted. This was because we were satisfied that the present voluntary approach whereby taxi or private hire vehicle drivers have the choice of asking passengers not to smoke for the most part worked satisfactorily.

Air Traffic Control

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he gives to the Civil Aviation Authority regarding air traffic control delays.

Tony McNulty: None. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) exercises its role as the independent regulator for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. through the licence issued to that company; one of the conditions of which is a delay term. The CAA sets this delay term taking into account consultation with interested parties and its duties and objectives under the Transport Act 2000.

Airports Consultation

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to assess the research submitted by BAA on air quality as part of the consultation into the future of air transport in the UK south-east.

Tony McNulty: Research undertaken by BAA will be assessed rigorously by the Government as part of the overall analysis of consultation responses.

Congestion Charge

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the impact of the London congestion charge.

Tony McNulty: The London congestion charging scheme is the responsibility of the Mayor, not the Government. However, Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor at which a wide range of transport matters are discussed.

Connex South Eastern

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the removal of the rail franchise from Connex South Eastern.

Tony McNulty: On 26 June 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) served notice to terminate the Connex franchise on 31 December 2003. They did so because they were not satisfied that Connex had introduced agreed changes to their financial monitoring and reporting arrangements designed to ensure that the substantial public subsidy they had received was being properly used. The SRA will run the service under their 'operator of last resort' powers, but have emphasised that they will do so for only as long as is necessary to appoint a new private sector operator. In the meantime, the SRA expect it to be business as usual for passengers and for the great majority of Connex staff.

Consultation Documents

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation.

Tony McNulty: The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:
	stakeholder meetings;
	listening events/public meetings;
	web forums;
	public surveys;
	focus groups;
	regional events;
	free-phone and freepost surveys and events;
	targeted leaflet campaigns; and
	road shows and exhibitions.
	It is standard practice for Departments to evaluate the policy development process, including the use of consultation. The specific information requested is not collated on a central basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Transport was established in May 2002. A full list of consultations on transport issues that have taken place from May 2002 (as DfT) and before (as DTLR) can be found on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk).
	DfT consultation documents are available on the relevant policy website links:
	aviation (www.aviation.dft.gov.uk/conmdex.htm)
	local transport (www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
	Mobility and Inclusion Unit (www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
	railways (www.railways.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
	roads, Vehicles and road safety (www.roads.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
	shipping (www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
	DfT consultations are also available through the UK Online website: www.ukonline.gov.uk

Heathrow Airport

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of residents in London who would be affected by increased noise levels if a third runway was constructed at Heathrow airport.

Tony McNulty: The "Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" consultation document (Table 7.3) does not give estimates for London alone. In the consultation document it is estimated that in 2030 the population living within the 57dBA Leq noise contour would be 332,000 if a third runway were constructed (which would include parts of Berkshire, London, South Bucks and Surrey), compared with 278,000 if no runway were built. The 332,000 figure includes people living in areas that would be affected by air traffic using the third runway who would experience increased noise levels compared with today, as well as people in other areas affected by traffic using the existing runways (also within the 57dBA Leq noise contour) who would experience reduced noise levels. For comparison, the figure for the resident population living in the same noise contour in 2000 given in the consultation document was 307,000. This had fallen to 258,300 by 2002.

Heathrow Airport

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects new areas of Hammersmith and Fulham to be affected by the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.

Tony McNulty: The modelling of noise impacts that is reported in the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" suggests that noise generated by aircraft using the new runway would not exceed 57 dBA Leq in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. However, the purpose of the assessment was to allow comparison of different options at a variety of locations; it does not purport to be a precise prediction of the noise effects at specific locations.

Pendle

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policies (a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport has carried forward the policies that were initiated by predecessor departments.
	Pendle benefits from policies managed by Lancashire county council. Lancashire received a total of £12.051 million in December 2002 for integrated transport measures as part of the 2003–04-transport settlement. This funding is being used by Lancashire to progress their Local Transport Plan, including a range of measures to tackle congestion, improve safety and enhance public transport provision throughout the county. It is for Lancashire to spend the allocation in accordance with local priorities.

Ports Police

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the conclusions are of his review of the arrangements for ports police in England and Wales.

David Jamieson: Officials are currently completing the draft report for approval by Ministers which we hope to be able to issue shortly. A copy of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Rail Safety

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to ensure that private contractors meet safety standards on rail maintenance.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail's Railway Safety Case, which is accepted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), includes Network Rail's Safety Management System to manage its contractors. This also requires Network Rail's contractors to demonstrate their ability to safely deliver the contract. Network Rail's Contractor Assurance System requires that each of its contractors have a Contractor Assurance Case that is monitored and reviewed by Network Rail. These cases are designed to ensure that contractors deliver a safe, effective and efficient railway.
	Network Rail is fundamentally changing the way it manages rail maintenance. Its New Maintenance Programme ensures that Network Rail decides what work is completed and when. Network Rail is also taking direct control of three maintenance contract areas. This will give Network Rail clearer control of the works being completed.
	Network Rail is also subject to regulation and enforcement by the HSE's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI). HMRI plans to monitor Network Rail's management of contractors, including its arrangement for managing maintenance contracts in-house.

Railways

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve public transport links between London and Chesham and Amersham.

Tony McNulty: Rail services between London, Chesham and Amersham are served by Chiltern Railways (M40 Trains Ltd.), for which an extended 20 year franchise was agreed in February last year. Contracted improvements include:
	Restoration of double track between Bicester North and Aynho Junction to be commissioned in August 2002, removing the last single track bottleneck between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill
	Full refurbishment of all existing Class 165s for completion during 2004 and the delivery of 15 additional vehicles between September 2002 and May 2005
	Construction of a new depot in the London area, and extension of the existing depot at Aylesbury—to achieve better train reliability
	Chiltern Rail will also be considering a project to reduce journey times and increase train frequency on the Metropolitan route between Marylebone and Aylesbury via Amersham will be developed and considered in March 2005—in the light of the SRA's priorities.

Scottish Airports

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has (a) received from and (b) made to the Scottish Executive concerning the imposition of public service obligations at airports in Scotland, broken down by (i) subject, (ii) date and (iii) responsible Ministers.

Tony McNulty: The Department regularly communicate with Scottish Executive Ministers on matters of mutual interest. At official level, there is regular contact between officials in my Department and their Scottish Executive counterparts.

Shipping

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the navigation costs imposed on shipping using the English Channel. [R]

David Jamieson: Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) makes no specific charge for aids to navigation in the English Channel. All services provided by THLS are met by light dues levied on commercial shipping calling at UK and Republic of Ireland ports. The costs are not identified separately by area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Advantage West Midlands

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Objective Two and Three European funding Advantage West Midlands has (a) applied for and (b) received in each financial year since its inception; and how much was spent on projects in North Staffordshire in each year.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) AWM inherited a number of ERDF funded projects at its inception from previous organisations. These totalled £12.5 million.
	Since its inception, AWM has applied for objective 2 funding totalling £15.4 million. These projects are mainly regionwide projects, benefiting the whole of the West Midlands region.
	(b) AWM have received the following amounts of ERDF in each financial year.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0.832 
			 2000–01 2.057  
			 2001–02 4.070  
			 2002–03 0.548  
		
	
	None of this has been spent on projects in North Staffordshire specifically, although a number of the ERDF funded projects benefit the West Midlands region.

Advantage West Midlands

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the grant-in-aid spending by Advantage West Midlands was in each financial year since its inception; how much was spent on projects in North Staffordshire in each year; how much was spent under the (a) land and property regeneration, (b) skills development and rapid response, (c) rural regeneration, (d) regional innovation fund, (e) inward investment and (f) applied to purchase operations and assets headings in each year; and how much of each was spent in (i) Stoke-on-Trent, (ii) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (iii) Staffordshire Moorlands and (iv) Stafford.

Jacqui Smith: The tables highlight spend in the various categories and four geographical areas stated in the PQ.
	The first table gives a breakdown of expenditure in the four areas, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stafford against five of the stated categories [Land and Property, Skills/RRF, Rural, Regional Innovation Fund and Inward Investment].
	The second table highlights the funds to "applied to purchase operations and asset headings" [i.e. capital and revenue expenditure] in the four areas. This table includes other expenditure such as SRB and RS A but excludes Regeneration Zone expenditure that cannot be clearly allocated to one of the four areas.
	
		£ millon
		
			 Spend: 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Stoke-on-Trent 
			 (a) L&P 1.253 0.906 2.995 2.494 
			 (b) Skills/RRF — — 0.450 0.250 
			 (c) Rural — — — — 
			 (d) Regional Innovation Fund — 0.690 0.925 0.002 
			 (e) Inward Investment — — — — 
			 (b) Newcastle-under-Lyme 
			 (a) L&P (0.108) (0.279) 2.086 0.124 
			 (b) Skills/RRF — — 0.203 — 
			 (c) Rural — — — — 
			 (d) Regional Innovation Fund — — — — 
			 (e) Inward Investment — — — — 
			 (c) Staffordshire Moorlands 
			 (a) L&P 0.004 — 0.703 1.291 
			 (b) Skills/RRF — — — — 
			 (c) Rural — — 0.063 0.078 
			 (d) Regional Innovation Fund — — — — 
			 (e) Inward Investment — — — — 
			 (d) Stafford 
			 (a) L&P 0.096 — 0.009 — 
			 (b) Skills/RRF — — — — 
			 (c) Rural — — — 0.014 
			 (d) Regional Innovation Fund — — — — 
			 (e) Inward Investment — — — — 
		
	
	
		(f) Purchase Operations & Asset Headings -- £ million
		
			  Capital Revenue Total 
		
		
			 (a) Stoke-on-Trent 
			 1999–2000 7.625 3.573 11.198 
			 2000–01 6.823 2.781 9.604 
			 2001–02 8.207 5.902 14.109 
			 2002–03 8.457 4.841 13.298 
			 Total 31.112 17.097 48.209 
			  (b) Newcastle-under-Lyme 
			 1999–2001 1.15 1.01 2.16 
			 2000–02 1.073 1.073 2.146 
			 2001–03 1.067 1.068 2.135 
			 2002–04 0.693 0.693 1.386 
			 Total 3.983 3.844 7.827 
			  (c) Staffordshire Moorlands 
			 1999–2002 0.145 0.066 0.211 
			 2000–03 0.078 0.3 0.378 
			 2001–04 1.142 0.431 1.573 
			 2002–05 1.937 0.472 2.409 
			 Total 3.302 1.269 4.571 
			 (d) Stafford 
			 1999–2003 0.096 0 0.096 
			 2000–04 0 0.013 0.013 
			 2001–05 0.069 0.355 0.424 
			 2002–06 0.426 0.577 1.003 
			 Total 0.591 0.945 1.536

BAE Systems

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the possible use of the Government's golden share in respect of a takeover bid being made for BAE Systems.

Jacqui Smith: We have received no formal approach related to the future of BAE Systems. If one is received, we would seek to protect the essential security interests in this country through the provisions of the "special share".

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the liquidators of BCCI envisage distributing the global fund balance; and how much the balance is.

Gerry Sutcliffe: These are matters for the Liquidators of the company.

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the weekly costs of the BCCI liquidation are; and what reduction in the level of weekly costs of the global liquidation is envisaged.

Gerry Sutcliffe: These are matters for the Liquidators of the company.

Business Incubation Fund

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Department's progress with implementing the Business Incubation Fund.

Nigel Griffiths: Since the launch of the Small Business Service Businesses Incubation Fund on 1 October 2001 applications for loans totalling £6 million have been received.

Consumer Protection

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional measures she intends to provide for consumer protection work.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The consumer provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 came fully into force on 20 June. Consumers will benefit as these new measures begin to bite from stronger enforcement of the law through the use of Stop Now Orders and sharing of information between enforcers. Consumers will also benefit from the Office of Fair Trading's new role in approving codes of practice. Codes of practice can help consumers to identify reputable traders and provide a swift means to redress on occasions when things go wrong.
	In summer 2002 DTI announced up to £30 million funding to implement a new national consumer helpline—Consumer Direct. The helpline will launch in pathfinder areas in 2004.

Estate Agents

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures there are for the payment of compensation to victims of malpractice by estate agents.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Consumers who suffer a financial loss as a result of malpractice by estate agents may be able to make a claim for compensation in the civil courts. If the estate agent is a member of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Scheme, consumers may also be able to make a claim for compensation to the ombudsman.

Estate Agents

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been made to the Director General of Fair Trading concerning the conduct of estate agents in each year since 1997; how many such complaints have been investigated by the Director General of Fair Trading in each year since 1997; how many estate agents have been banned as unfit to practise by the Director General of Fair Trading since 1997; and if she will publish the list of banned estate agents.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table contains details of complaints received by the Director General of Fair Trading alleging breaches of estate agent legislation and banning orders issued to estate agents since 1997.
	
		
			  Number of complaints about estate agents received by OFT Number of estate agents banned by OFT 
		
		
			 1997 133 3 
			 1998 98 3 
			 1999 199 6 
			 2000 213 4 
			 2001 170 0 
			 2002 206 6 
		
	
	All complaints are initially reviewed to see if a potential breach of the Act has occurred. If there is a breach, then a full investigation will take place and, if the breach is proved, regulatory action is taken. Prior to the year 2000, the Office of Fair Trading did not record details of how many complaints were investigated. Since then, an average of 50 per cent. of complaints made to the Office of Fair Trading have resulted in a full investigation, which in turn has led to an average of 80 warning letters being sent each year.
	The Office of Fair Trading maintains a Public Register of banned estate agents and will provide a list of banned estate agents which will be placed in the Libraries of the House shortly.

Estate Agents

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has undertaken a review of the provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979 since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not undertaken a review of the provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979 since 1997. However, the Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating the market for estate agents in England and Wales, including the effectiveness of the Act.
	I will consider carefully any recommendations the Director General of Fair Trading makes about future regulation of this market.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU advisory committee on the labelling of household appliances, the number of times and the dates on which it has met since January 2002, the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, the decisions it has made since January 2002 and the means used to communicate these decisions to the House.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no committee that has the responsibility for all the labelling issues that might arise in connection with household appliances. There is however a committee which is concerned with "the indication by labelling and standard product information on the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances". This Committee does not have a fixed membership, but consists of delegates drawn from each of EU member states.
	The Committee has met four times since January 2002 (on 18 March, 10 June and 25 September in 2002 and 1 April 2003). Agenda items relate to the implementation of the framework directive for the energy labelling of household appliances (92/5EEC) including proposals for new directives.
	Since January 2002, the Committee has voted formally in favour of proposals to amend the current directive on household refrigeration appliances and against proposals to amend the directive on washing machines. The Committee provides advice and comes to conclusions on a range of wider, related issues including, for example, the voluntary provision by manufacturers of energy consumption information on consumer electronic equipment such as TVs and video recorders.
	Together with member states, the Commission has been conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of Comitology Committees into line with Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". The Working group on the Friends of Comitology is meeting later this month to discuss proposals for interim reform.
	As an obligation of this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the Working of the Committee. The second re[port was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 10 January 2003 ref 5060/03, COM(03)733.
	As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions to be accessible through its website.

Flexible Working

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the operation of the law relating to flexible working hours, with special reference to claims against employers on procedural grounds where the flexible working hours contract has been granted.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received no representations on the operation of the new flexible working law which came into effect on 6 April this year. We are committed to commence a review of the impact of the law in three years' time, and in collaboration with key stakeholders, we are currently putting in place a monitoring strategy for gathering ongoing evidence as to how the new law is working in practice.
	We understand that the Acas Arbitration Scheme conciliators have been approached for advice on two occasions, the first of which led to the withdrawal of the claim by the employee and the second identified that no breach of procedure had taken place. One claim for unfair dismissal relating to the flexible working legislation was registered with the Employment Tribunal Service in May and this is currently in the initial stage of the process.
	Help and advice is available to employers as well as employees. Those who want to speak to an adviser about any aspect of the law, including practical advice on how to apply the law can call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47. Advisers have been specifically trained on the working parents laws. Detailed guidance, including forms based on best practice, is also available on our website at www.dti.gov.uk/workingparents and also in hard copy. This emphasises that it is in both parties' interests to seek to resolve disputes as far as possible within the workplace and that employment tribunals should be treated as a last resort.

Heating Engineers

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking to ensure the training of heating engineers and gas fitters to facilitate a higher take-up of condensing boilers.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Learning and Skills Council is working with the Energy Efficiency Partnership and the Gas and Water Industry National Training Organisation (GWINTO) to develop a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) unit on Energy Efficiency and Condensing Boilers which can be incorporated into current qualifications. The unit is expected to be available generally from September 2004.
	In parallel with this activity, they are also taking steps to further develop their provider base to facilitate the delivery of the anticipated demand for the new unit.

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she is seeking repayment of the Export Credit Guarantees Department unrecovered claims from Iraq; and whether she has notified the Coalition administration in Iraq of these unrecovered claims.

Mike O'Brien: The Government would like to see a fair and sustainable solution to Iraq's debt problems. We believe the best way to achieve that is through a full assessment by the IMF and the World Bank of Iraq's needs, resources, and obligations, leading to a shared agreement on debt by the Paris Club of official creditors, and comparable treatment by other creditors. The UK is not expecting any payments from Iraq in the near future. The states recognized as occupying powers under unified command are aware of these claims on Iraq.

Landfill Directive

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cost benefit analyses her Department has undertaken to identify the net effect on total (a) employment and (b) economic activity in the United Kingdom of compliance with the Landfill Directive; and what the main conclusions of such analyses were.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of the Landfill Directive in England and Wales was published with the Second Consultation Paper on Implementation of Council Directive (199/31/EC) on the Landfill of Waste. This is available on the Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk). A base case was established and various policy mixes were costed against that base case. The additional costs of the policy mixes that reflect the levels of recycling, composting and recovery needed to meet the waste strategy targets amounted to a range of between £3.4 billion and £7.7 billion (net present value) over the 20 year period 2000–20.
	The RIA recognised that many of the potential benefits cannot be quantified but believes that a number will be of local significance where they result in a reduced impact of existing landfills. These benefits relate principally to reducing health and environmental risks and by promoting more sustainable options such as waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
	The RIA also draws attention to benefits from investment in treatment technologies and rising landfill standards that could result in new economic and employment opportunities.
	As was also recognised by the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not", there are economic opportunities to be realised from improving the way that waste streams are managed. For example, less wasteful product design and manufacturing processes will translate directly into cost savings for business. New waste technologies and services can also provide new markets for UK businesses and generate significant revenue. If local authorities are to meet their recycling and landfill targets, for example, investment will be needed in alternative recycling/treatment facilities.

National Minimum Wage

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans the Government has to increase the national minimum wage;
	(2)  what plans the Government has to extend the national minimum wage to those aged 18–21.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government accepted the increases to the minimum wage rates recommended by the independent Low Pay Commission in their fourth report earlier this year. Regulations to increase the adult rate of the minimum wage from £4.20 to £4.50 and the youth rate (paid to workers aged 18 to 21 inclusive) from £3.60 to £3.80 in October 2003 were recently laid before Parliament and will be debated before the summer recess.

National Minimum Wage

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she estimates the financial cost to UK business would be if 16 and 17-year-olds received the same level of minimum wage as those 18 and above.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government have agreed that the Low Pay Commission should look at the possible advantages and disadvantages of a minimum wage rate for 16 to 17-year-old workers, and to report on this issue by the end of February 2004.
	The cost to business will be one of the many issues the Commission will want to consider. The Commission will be conducting their work in parallel with a wider Government review (led by the Treasury) which will be looking at education and training policy and the system of financial support for young people. The Commission will work closely with relevant Departments, so that the two pieces of work can inform each other and the Government will obviously be looking at this issue very carefully next spring.

Post Boxes

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the proposed replacement of signs on post boxes with ones that do not indicate whether the last collection from each post box has happened; and if she will make it her policy to convey those representations to the Royal Mail.

Stephen Timms: A number of Members of Parliament have written to me about the changes to the information shown on collection plates on post boxes. These changes are an operational matter for Royal Mail Group plc. I have asked the Deputy Chairman of Royal Mail to reply direct to the hon. Member about these changes.

Post Boxes

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she estimates the cost will be of the replacement by the Royal Mail of the information signs on post boxes brought about by the requirements of the Discrimination Disability Act 1995.

Stephen Timms: The changes to the information signs on post boxes to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have, therefore, asked the Deputy Chairman of Royal Mail to reply to your question direct.

Post Boxes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes the Post Office has made to the number of collections from post boxes each day in the past two years.

Stephen Timms: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail Group plc and I have therefore asked the Deputy Chairman to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Rail Network

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the cost to business of the change in performance of the national railway network since 1999; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I have made no such estimate though the Department remains keenly interested in business views on all aspects of infrastructure.

Research and Development

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to increase research and development in the manufacturing sector.

Jacqui Smith: We are helping to increase research and development (R&D) in the manufacturing sector through the introduction of a R&D tax credit for small and medium sized companies, and more recently a R&D tax credit for large companies. DTI, HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue will shortly be consulting on an improved definition of R&D, and further simplifications and improvements to the R&D tax credits.

Solar/Clear Skies Funds

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the uptake of (a) the DTI solar fund and (b) the clear skies fund since their introduction.

Stephen Timms: The PV Major Demonstration Programme has, in Streams one and two, grants committed totalling £10.14 million.
	These breakdown as follow:
	Stream 1–298 grants offered with a committed value of £2.35 million, of which 108 installations have been completed at a total cost of £754,000.
	Stream 2–66 grants offered with a committed value of £7.8 million.
	The Clear Skies initiative has just approved 22 Community grants with a committed value of £490,000.
	Individual householder approved grants total 237, with a committed value of £169,900.

Solar/Clear Skies Funds

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to extend the scope of the (a) DTI solar fund and (b) the clear skies fund.

Stephen Timms: Both the PV Major Demonstration Programme and Clear Skies are schemes that have role to play in helping to breakdown barriers to public acceptability of renewable technologies, by providing local residents with a direct benefit from renewable developments.
	The extensive interest and take-up of both schemes indicate the great strides already achieved by both. Further consultation and evaluation will be taking place in the lifetime of each to inform any decision on the extension of either or both schemes.

Trade Rules

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government has taken to secure (a) fairness, (b) transparency and (c) democracy in the application of trade rules.

Mike O'Brien: The UK Government is committed to ensuring that the multilateral rules-based international trading system, embodied in the World Trade Organisation (WTO),continues to work on a fair, transparent, and democratic basis.
	All decisions within the WTO are already taken on the basis of consensus. That means that if any one of the WTO's 146 members opposes any proposed change it cannot be implemented.
	The UK played a major part in pushing for changes to the way WTO negotiations were conducted after the Seattle Ministerial Conference in 1999. The UK also supports greater external transparency for the organisation, and important steps to achieving this have been taken through the earlier release of documents.
	We recognise that developing countries may need assistance in order to be able to participate more effectively in the WTO-based system. The UK has therefore committed £45 million for trade-related technical assistance and capacity building initiatives since 1998.
	The UK also recognises that not all WTO members can implement all WTO rules now. This is why we support an approach to the current round of trade negotiations which recognises that WTO members are at very different stages of development and have different capacities to implement WTO rules. To help countries to manage their commitments under the WTO, we are pressing for Special and Differential Treatment provisions within the WTO Agreements to be real and binding, and for any new WTO rules to reflect countries' implementation capacities.

Trade Rules

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the members of the World Trade Organisation are from developing countries; and how many developing countries are seeking to join the organisation.

Mike O'Brien: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) currently has 146 Members. 106 of those countries can be defined as Developing Countries (based on the World Bank's definition—there is no single agreed definition of 'Developing Country' within the WTO Agreements). Least Developed Countries (LDCs) account for 30 of those 106 countries.
	On the same basis, 25 of the 27 countries currently negotiating to join the WTO can be defined as Developing Countries. 10 of these are LDCs.

UK Online

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which wards and programmes within Sefton have benefited from UK Online; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: There are thirty UK online centres which have been set up in the borough of Sefton, to provide people within the borough with access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
	Thirteen of these centres are located in the Sefton ward of Litherland, five in Cambridge, four in Church, three in St Oswald, two in Harington and one in each of the wards of Sudell, Ainsdale and Birkdale.
	Eight of the centres located within Litherland and one within Church were set up to specifically target people from disadvantaged community groups. Capital funding was provided (administered through the Department for Education and Skills—DfES) from the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF). In addition revenue funding was provided from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). In total, within the Sefton area up to £226,000 from the CMF was provided to contribute to building and ICT equipment costs and £89,000 was provided by NOF to help with revenue and running costs.
	Additionally, UK Online for Business has established two e-business clubs run by British Chambers of Commerce and private partnerships, which serve the Sefton area. The Merseyside third sector technology centre (3TC) aims to make Information and Communication Technology accessible to voluntary and Community Organisations across Merseyside; the Merseyside eBusiness Club (MERIT NW Ltd) offers free impartial advice and information on how eBusiness and ICT can improve efficiency and profitability, and reduce costs to local businesses within the Sefton area.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 1067W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The presence of asbestos is currently recorded in the following buildings occupied by the Department of Health, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies where it has responsibility for the building or building fabric:
	Department of Health (Wellington House, SE1; Eileen House, SE1; Hannibal House, SE1; Richmond House, SW1; Market Towers, SW8; Premier Buildings, Nelson).
	Agencies: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (Bristol Avenue, Blackpool).
	Non-departmental public bodies: National Radiological Protection Board (Chilton, Oxfordshire); National Biological Standards Board (Porton Down).
	As part of our preparations for the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations, we continue to identify where in our buildings asbestos is present, to assess the risk and take appropriate action.

Basic Educational Skills

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) the UK and (ii) Sefton lack basic (1) reading, (2) writing and (3) mathematics skills.

Ivan Lewis: The International Adult Literacy Survey in 1996 suggested that in Great Britain 1 there are 3.8 million men (21 per cent.) and 4.1million women (22 per cent.) between the ages of 16 and 65 who performed at the lowest level in literacy and 3.2 million men (18 per cent.) and 5.2 million women (29 per cent.) who performed at the lowest level in numeracy. The Department does not have available regional or local level statistics on literacy and numeracy levels.
	The Department has commissioned a new representative sample survey of working age adults in England to provide an up-to-date assessment of the scale of literacy and numeracy need. These estimates will be mapped to the new national basic skills standards, will allow analysis by Government Office Region, and will be published in autumn 2003.
	1 IALS data are not available for the UK.

British Overseas Territories

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responsibilities his Department undertakes in connection with British Overseas Territories.

Alan Johnson: The Department for Education and Skills does not have any direct responsibilities concerning the Overseas Territories. However, the Department has offered to provide them with general guidance on requests for specific information on education and training policies within the UK.

Child Care

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has made to Ofsted about their instructions to inspectors of nurseries and childminders to keep to a quota of 10 per cent. categorised as good.

David Miliband: holding answer 9 July 2003
	No representations have been made to Ofsted on this matter. As this is a matter for Ofsted, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU advisory committee on vocational training, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Advisory Committee on Vocational Training (ACVT) does not have a fixed membership, but consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European member states.
	(b) The Committee usually meets once every Presidency and has met three times since January 2002; on 23–24 May 2002, 30–31 October 2002 and 5–6 June 2003.
	(c) Since January 2002 the following agenda items have been considered:
	ACVT 23–24 May 2002
	Follow-up to the Barcelona European Council
	Establishment of the Guidance Forum
	Lifelong Learning: follow-up to the Commission Communication.
	Commission Communication on an Action Plan for Skills and Mobility COM(2002)72 Final
	Recognition and transparency: new approach; Transparency Forum; European Curriculum Vitae
	Forum on the quality of vocational training
	European portal on learning opportunities
	Implementation Report on the "Europass Training" Decision and evaluation plan 1999/51/EC
	ACVT 30–31 October 2002
	The working methods of the ACVT.
	An increased European cooperation in vocational education and training: an integrated approach (the "Bruges" initiative).
	Mandate of the transparency working group.
	Mandate of the credit transfer working group. Priorities for future work on the quality of vocational training, including the mandate of the technical working group on quality. Preparation of the new generation of programmes in the field of education and training. Taking stock of five years of the European Employment Strategy.
	ACVT 5–6 June 2003
	The draft new Rules of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training.
	Preliminary information on the future rules of procedure.
	Status report on the "objectives" process.
	Progress report on the mapping exercise of sectoral qualifications currently being prepared by Cedefop;
	Evaluation and development of the project "Professionalisation durable".
	New employment guidelines.
	Occupational Health and Safety and its mainstreaming into education and training.
	Proposed approach to support the development of sectoral qualifications, including the role of ACVT.
	Outline of a draft proposal for a decision setting up a European framework for the transparency of competences and qualifications ("Europass II").
	New generation of programmes: results of the consultation process and state of play on the preparation of proposals.
	(d/e) ACVT was set up to offer advice and submit opinions to the European Commission on vocational training policy. It does not have the power to make decisions. Its advice and opinions are addressed to the European Commission which provides the secretarial service to the Committee. The Commission publishes an annual report on the workings of its committees. The latest (second) report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 10 January 2003 (Com (2003) 5060).

Examination Results

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students gained five A*-C grades (a) excluding and (b) including GNVQ results in each year between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The percentage of 15 year olds achieving five grades A*-C at GCSE or equivalent from 1995 to 2002 are shown in the table below.
	
		15-year olds achieving five grades A*-C at GCSE or equivalent -- Percentage
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Excluding GNVQ 43.5 44.5 45.0 46.1 47.7 48.8 49.4 50.2 
			 Including GNVQ 43.5 44.5 45.1 46.3 47.9 49.2 50.0 51.6 
		
	
	As we announced in Opportunity and Excellence we are committed to greater vocational learning for pupils and students during the 14–19 period.

Key Stage 2 Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Level 4 pass mark was for the Key Stage Two tests in (a) English and (b) Mathematics in each year from 1997 to 2002; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The threshold mark for Level 4 at Key Stage Two in each year between 1997 and 2002 was as follows:
	
		Level 4 pass marks for Key Stage Two tests
		
			  English Mathematics 
		
		
			 2002 49 49 
			 2001 50 49 
			 2000 49 50 
			 1999 48 52 
			 1998 51 52 
			 1997 52 40 
		
	
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of the National Curriculum tests on behalf of the Secretary of State. There is a process in place, the level setting exercise, to ensure standards are maintained year on year. The level thresholds are the range of marks needed to achieve a particular level in the National Curriculum tests.
	The test development processes used by QCA include trials of written questions that are improved and finalised before administration. The pre-testing establishes comparability across key stages and across years. The technical information collected by these stages is considered alongside other evidence in order to set levels that are consistent from year to year.
	The confirmation of the final level thresholds takes the form of a meeting chaired by QCA and attended by representatives from the test development agencies, chief markers, QCA officers, researchers and statisticians, representatives from professional associations and independent academics and observers.
	The Government are satisfied that the quality control procedures in place for test development and level setting are thorough and rigorous. In July 1999, an Independent Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Jim Rose, considered QCA's arrangements for setting and maintaining the standards of the Key Stage Two English and mathematics tests. The Rose Review report validated the development procedures and confirmed that the test data from Key Stage Two was a reliable measure of pupil attainment.

Key Stage 3 Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Level 4 pass mark for Key Stage 3 tests in (a) English and (b) mathematics was in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The threshold mark for Level 4 in the Key Stage 3 tests in (a) English and (b) mathematics between 1997 and 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			  English Mathematics  Tier 3–5 Mathematics  Tier 4–6 Mathematics  Tier 5–7 
		
		
			 2003 16 68 30 26 
			 2002 20 66 33 31 
			 2001 21 67 32 31 
			 2000 20 69 33 32 
			 1999 22 69 32 30 
			 1998 25 72 32 31 
			 1997 19 54 28 24 
		
	
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of the National Curriculum tests on behalf of the Secretary of State. There is a process in place, the level setting exercise, to ensure standards are maintained year on year. The level thresholds are the range of marks needed to achieve a particular level in the National Curriculum tests.
	The test development processes used by QCA include trials of written questions that are improved and finalised before administration. The pre-testing establishes comparability across key stages and across years. The technical information collected by these stages is considered alongside other evidence in order to set levels that are consistent from year to year.
	The confirmation of the final level thresholds takes the form of a meeting chaired by QCA and attended by representatives from the test development agencies, chief markers, QCA officers, researchers and statisticians, representatives from professional associations and independent academics and observers.
	The Government are satisfied that the quality control procedures in place for test development and level setting are thorough and rigorous. In July 1999, an Independent Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Jim Rose, considered QCA's arrangements for setting and maintaining the standards of the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests. The Rose Review report validated the development procedures and confirmed that the test data from Key Stage 2 were a reliable measure of pupil attainment.

School Buildings (The Wrekin)

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on (a) development and (b) repair of school buildings in The Wrekin in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect this information but it should be available from the LEA.

School Rolls

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reform the method of calculation for projected school rolls to include estimated migration as well as birth rate.

David Miliband: National pupil projections, a summary of which is published in the Department for Education and Skills' Departmental Report each year, already take account of estimated migration.
	The projections take account of several factors, including the results of the schools census for pupil numbers, expected trends in participation for children outside statutory school ages, and the latest population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department. These population projections take account of long-term trends in fertility, mortality, and net migration.

School Rolls

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of migration in the calculation of predicted school rolls.

David Miliband: National pupil projections take account of several factors, including the results of the schools census for pupil numbers, expected trends in participation for children outside statutory school ages, and the latest population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department. These population projections take account of long-term trends in fertility, mortality, and net migration.
	Separate assessments are not available for the different factors affecting the national pupil projections.

Statistics (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people resident in the London Borough of Wandsworth are (a) further and (b) higher education students.

Alan Johnson: The question asks about the London Borough of Wandsworth. Figures are available for Wandsworth Local Education Authority (LEA). However, for LEAs within Greater London, it is only possible to give the number of entrants to undergraduate courses rather than the total number of people attending higher education institutions.
	In 2000/01, 19,000 people resident in Wandsworth LEA attended further education (FE) sector colleges.
	In 2001/02, around 1,600 people resident in Wandsworth were accepted onto full time undergraduate courses.

Student Recruitment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 7 July, ref 122817, on recruitment of students, from which geographical areas funds will be distributed to higher education institutions.

Alan Johnson: This is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. John Harwood, the Chief Executive of the Funding Council will reply to this and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Teenage Education

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he is doing to improve the education and information available to teenagers in state funded schools with regard to (a) sexually transmitted diseases, (b) alcohol, (c) drugs and (d) smoking cigarettes.

Stephen Twigg: Education about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), drugs, alcohol and tobacco is delivered through the framework for Personal Social and Health Education and compulsory Science lessons.
	We have taken a range of measures to improve the education and information about STIs and drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, in schools. We have made available £17.5 million this year to support drug, alcohol and tobacco education in schools. From April 2001, we have supported the appointment of Schools Drug Advisors to help schools deliver drug education tailored to the needs of pupils. We are supporting a range of continuing professional development opportunities to support teachers and other professionals who deliver effective drug education and education about STIs. We have commissioned practical guidance for teachers on HIV and STIs to support coverage of these issues. We, together with the Home Office and the Department of Health, are also supporting a national five-year research programme called "Blueprint" which will test the effectiveness of drug education initiatives in schools.

Vocational Training

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of people in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire completing a vocational training course have obtained employment within three months in the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: Because figures are estimated from surveys, information is only available for those leaving government supported work based learning for young people (WBLYP), by region (rather than by parliamentary constituency) and for those in a job six (not three) months after leaving learning. The percentages of learners on WBLYP in all regions (see specifically the South East), who were in a job six months after leaving are shown in the following table. The information in the table relates to all leavers and is taken from a postal survey sent to each learner six months after leaving the programme. The latest year for which figures are available is 2000–01. Percentages of survey respondents who were in a job six months after leaving a period of government supported training by financial year, programme and region.
	
		Percentages of survey respondents who were in a job six months after leaving a period of government supported training by financial year, programme and region
		
			 Financial year of leaving/Outcome South East London East of England South West West Midlands East Midlands Yorkshire and Humberside North West North East England 
		
		
			 1997–98   
			 In a job   
			 (AMA) 81 79 84 82 79 82 78 77 78 80 
			 (FMA) — — — — — — — — — — 
			 (OT) 73 57 71 68 67 68 62 63 57 65 
			 (WBLYP) 74 62 73 71 70 70 65 65 60 68 
			
			 1998–99   
			 In a job   
			 (AMA) 84 82 85 86 82 84 80 80 78 82 
			 (FMA) — — — — — — — — — — 
			 (OT) 70 55 74 71 66 66 59 62 55 64 
			 (WBLYP) 74 62 77 75 69 70 65 67 61 69 
			
			 1999–2000   
			 In a job   
			 (AMA) 87 81 87 87 84 85 83 82 81 84 
			 (FMA) 70 66 72 69 67 71 69 64 63 68 
			 (OT) 71 49 71 70 63 66 58 61 53 62 
			 (WBLYP) 77 63 77 75 70 72 67 69 62 70 
			 2000–01   
			 In a job   
			 (AMA) 87 83 89 90 84 87 87 85 84 86 
			 (FMA) 75 68 73 71 66 70 68 67 60 69 
			 (OT) 73 44 66 71 56 63 58 62 51 61 
			 (WBLYP) 79 67 78 79 69 73 69 73 64 72 
		
	
	Key:
	AMA—Advanced Modern Apprenticeships
	FMA—Foundation Modern Apprenticeships
	OT—Other Training
	WBLYP—Work Based Learning for Young People
	Source:
	DfES Statistical First release 14/2002

Young People Statistics

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds were not in education, employment or training in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 8 July 2003
	The numbers and percentages of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) for 1997 to 2001 (as at end of calendar year) are set out in the table. The figures for end 2001 are provisional.
	
		16 to 18-year-olds NEET in England
		
			 End Number (thousand) Percentage 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 170 9 
			 1998 183 10 
			 1999 156 9 
			 2000 172 9 
			 2001 173 9 
		
	
	Source:
	These estimates are taken from the latest annual statistical first release, "SFR 16/2002: Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to 18 Year Olds in England: 2000 and 2001".

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Carbon Savings (Micro CHP)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role she expects micro CHP to play up to 2010 in achieving the planned carbon savings.

Ben Bradshaw: New technologies such as micro-CHP which are not yet available commercially have the potential to deliver carbon savings but are not expected to make a significant contribution towards carbon emission reductions up to 2010, although the contribution could be much more significant in the longer term. The 2002 draft CHP Strategy anticipated that micro-CHP may provide 400MW towards achievement of the Government's target of 10,000 MW of installed Good Quality CHP by 2010, but the exact amount of installed capacity will depend on a wide range of variables.

Emissions (Sellafield)

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to reduce emissions of radioactive waste from the Sellafield plant; what levels of technetium-99 are considered safe for human consumption; and what the scientific basis is for this assessment.

Elliot Morley: the nature and quantities of radioactive waste that may be discharged from any site are controlled by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. In November 1999, Ministers asked the Environment Agency to carry out a full-scale review of all radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site, and to report on technetium-99 in advance of the main review. The Agency's proposed decisions were published in August 2002 and are currently under consideration by the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and for Health. The Agency proposed no increases in discharge limits above the current limits and reductions to eight out of 10 of the aerial and half the liquid discharge limits.
	There are no statutory limits for technetium-99 in food. The Food Standards Agency estimates the radiation dose that a consumer would receive from consuming affected food and compares that estimate to the dose received from natural sources and the statutory dose limit of 1mSv/year from all man-made sources of radioactivity other than medical exposure. Assessments carried out by both the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency for the EA's review of Tc-99 indicated that, at the current discharge limit, the annual radiation dose from Tc-99 to the group of people most exposed to liquid discharges from the Sellafield site (i.e. local seafood consumers) is of the order of 0.02–0.03 mSv/year. Concerns would be raised if the technetium-99 present in food added significantly to the background dose or caused doses to approach the dose limit.

Agricultural Waste Regulations

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Agricultural Waste Regulations to come into operation.

Elliot Morley: We are preparing the Regulations necessary to apply the Waste Framework Directive's controls to those types of agricultural waste which are not excluded from the Directive's scope by Article 2. A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is also being prepared. This work is being carried out in consultation with the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders' Forum whose terms of reference etc. are available on its website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/agforum/index.htm
	On completion, the draft Regulations and RIA will be issued for a 12 week public consultation period. A firm date for publication of the consultation paper has not yet been set but our aims are to publish it in the Autumn and for the Regulations to come into operation in early 2004.

Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to enable consumers to identify food produced under high animal welfare standards.

Ben Bradshaw: Comprehensive legislation exists to protect the welfare of all farmed animals. There are also species-specific welfare codes. There are no legislative arrangements planned or in place specifically to identify on food products the welfare conditions under which animals have been reared and slaughtered, although voluntary schemes do exist.

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 286W, on asbestos, if she will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos.

Alun Michael: My response of 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 286W, set out the actions that Defra, its Agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
	A list of buildings occupied by staff of the Department, and which are known to contain asbestos, is listed as follows:
	Nac, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 4HD
	VLA Regional Laboratory, The Elms, College Road, Sutton Bonnington, Loughborough, Notts LE12 5RB
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Barton Hall, Garstang Road, Garstang, Preston, Lancs PR1 3UP
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS18 7DX
	Staplake Mount, Starcross, Exeter, Devon EX6 8PE
	SVS Workshop, Truro Road, Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9AD
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Truro Road, Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9AD
	VLA Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB
	Former Plant Pathology Laboratory, Hatching Green Drive, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2BD
	VLA Laboratory, West House, Station Road, Thirsk, North Yorks YO7 1PZ
	Cefas Radiobiological Laboratory, The Harbour West Pier, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7LY
	Cefas Laboratory, Pakefiloed Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT
	Cefas Laboratory, Remembrance Avenue, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CH0 2BD
	Cefas Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth. Dorset DT4 8UB
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Merrythought, Calthwaite, Penrith Cumbria CA11 9RR
	The Custom House, 1 Old Market Place, Whitby, North Yorks YO21 3BT
	Blocks 6 and 7, Government Buildings, Chalfont Drive, Nottingham, Notts NG8 3SN
	Government Buildings, Cop Lane, Penwortham, Preston, Lancs PR1 0SP
	Whitehall, Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 5AJ
	Woodthorne, Wergs Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV6 8TQ
	Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2LG
	Princess House, Queen Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8HE
	Government Buildings, Burghill Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 6YW
	Government Offices, Prince of Wales Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1PY
	Quantock House, Paul Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3NX
	Martlett House, St. John's Street, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1UH
	Government Buildings, Uplands, 98 Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2LD
	Block A, Government Buildings, Coley Park, Reading, Berks RG1 6DT
	Government Buildings, 100 Southgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2AF
	Government Offices, Beeches Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2RU
	Chequers Court, St. Germaine Street, Huntingdon, Cambs PE18 6LT
	Vancouver House, County Court Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5EH
	Middlecott House, 24 Willington Road, Kirton, Boston, Lincs PE20 1EJ
	122A Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RN
	Lion House, Willowburn Trading Estate, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2PF
	Edenbridge House, Lowther Street, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 8DX
	Government Buildings, Otley Road, Lawnswood, Leeds, West Yorks LS16 5PY
	Agricola House, Gilwilly Trading Estate, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9BU
	3–8 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HH
	55 Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1A 2EY
	Eastbury House, 30–34 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TL
	Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HX
	Bradley Chambers, 26 London Street, Fleetwood, Lancs FY7 6JG
	SVS Wildlife Unit, Aston Down, Stroud, Gloucs GL6 8HT
	Longacre House, Frome Road, Trowbridge, Wilts BA14 0DQ
	Unit 1C, Western International Market, Hayes Road, Heston, Uxbridge, London UB2 5XJ
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Itchen Abbas, Winchester, Hants SO21 1BU
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Whitley Road, Longbenton, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle NE12 9SE
	Olantigh Road, Wye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5EL
	3rd and 4th Floors, 19–29 Woburn Place, London WC1H 0LU
	Drayton EHF, Alcester Road, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9RQ
	Fish Market, Rock a Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3D
	Chorley West Business Park, Unit 6, Ackhurst Road, Chorley, Lancs
	Lumford Mill, Riverside Walk, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1GS
	Neville House, Bell Street, Liddell Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE30 1HN
	Hadrian House, 6 Wavell Drive, Rosehill Business Park, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 2ST
	Copthall House, Station Square, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 2FA
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Jobs Well Lane, Carmarthen
	VLA Regional Laboratory, Buarth Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 1ND
	Liberty House, Bell Street, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7JB
	Government Buidings, Ty Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff
	Crown Buildings, Spa Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 5HA
	Clyst House, Winslade Park, Clyst St. Mary, Exeter, Devon, EX5 1DY
	Chapel Bank Works, Curwen Road, Workington, Cumbria CA14
	Room 516, Trelawny House, The Dock, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 8SB
	St. George's Business Centre, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3EZ
	Coniston Buildings, 55 Adams Road, Workington, Cumbria CA14 3YS
	The Residence, 749 Beacon Road, Heathrow Airport, Heathrow, Middlesex TW6 3JF
	Unit 7, West Cumbria Business Park, Workington, Cumbria
	Thistledown Farm, Nympsfield Road, Nympsfield, Gloucs GL10 3UL
	Cromwell House, Dean Stanley Street, London, Westminster SW1 4JN
	Unit 1, Saw Mills End, Corinium Avenue, Barnwood, Gloucs GL4 3DE
	9 Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 3GE
	Beacon House, Unit G, University Court, Technology Park, Stafford, Staffs ST18 0GU
	Kings House, 33 Kings Road, Reading RG1 3BU
	40 Caversham Road, Reading, Berks RG1 7BT
	Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle NE4 7YE
	Unit 4d, Paddock Road Industrial Estate, Caversham, Reading RG4 5BY
	Pilots Watch House, Basin Road South, Shoreham, East Sussex
	64A The Strand, Newlyn, Cornwall
	Former Buffer Depot, Nant Alyn Road, Rhydymwyn, near Mold, Flintshire CH7 5HQ.

Biodiversity

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Government meeting their target of halting the decline in biodiversity by 2010; and what part she intends that the UK's system of local wildlife sites will play in helping to meet that target.

Ben Bradshaw: The targets we have set under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) help us to understand the progress we are making towards the global target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The lead partners for the species and habitat action plans and the local partnerships reported on progress with their plans at the end of 2002 and the results have now been analysed. The emerging findings were reported to the first annual conference of the UK Biodiversity Partnership held in Perth on 21 May 2003.
	The analysis shows mixed progress. There are some very good signs of progress for some species and habitats including the otter, the dormouse, bittern, reedbeds and cereal field margins. Others, such as limestone pavements, and the natterjack toad are more disappointing, and one species of lichen appears to have disappeared from its last remaining site as a result of air pollution.
	Overall we believe that the targeted, partnership approach adopted by the UKBAP structure is working, albeit in some cases more slowly than we had hoped. Full details can be found on the UKBAP web site at http://ukbap.org.uk.
	'Working with the Grain of Nature—A biodiversity strategy for England' published in October 2002 sets out the measures we are taking in England to implement the UKBAP. The strategy aims to ensure that the implications for biodiversity are considered as an integral part of other key policies, such as agriculture, water, forestry, urban and marine, and as part of people's everyday lives. A set of biodiversity indicators for the strategy will be published later this year.
	The strategy also recognises the importance of partnership working for biodiversity at the local and regional level. Since 1995 around 100 local biodiversity partnerships have been established throughout England and are helping to deliver national and local biodiversity targets and objectives. Local wildlife sites provide important wildlife refuges, link different habitats and help to maintain biodiversity as a whole. They are an important mechanism available to local biodiversity partnerships.

British Overseas Territories

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities her Department undertakes in connection with British Overseas Territories.

Ben Bradshaw: The Overseas Territories Department in Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead Department for the Overseas Territories (OTs), but the Department works closely with other Departments, especially the FCO, to ensure that the interests of OTs are appropriately integrated into the UK position, for example, when negotiating Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and in making arrangements for UK ratification of MEAs. Defra will also provide advice on best practice when requested by local OT governments.

Ceramics Industry

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the ceramics industry concerning the Water Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have not received any representations from the ceramics industry since the Water Bill was introduced to Parliament on 19 February 2003.

Common Agricultural Policy

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has for further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government will be consulting shortly on the options available for reforming the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy in the UK, following the agreement reached at the Agriculture Council on 26 June.
	The Government are keen to press ahead as well with reforms to the sugar, tobacco, olive oil and cotton regimes and with reviews of the wine and fruit and vegetable regimes of the CAP. We await the European Commission's proposals for these sectors, which it has indicated it will bring forward in the autumn.

Common Agricultural Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she estimates the UK's contribution to the CAP will be affected by the accession of 10 new EU members.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK contributes to the EC budget as a whole and not to the CAP specifically. The costs of extending the CAP to the new member states have been limited by respect for the Berlin expenditure ceilings for enlargement-related expenditure for the period 2004 to 2006. The Copenhagen European Council agreed 40.85 billion euros (1999 prices) over 2004–06 for the 10 new member states, well within the enlargement-related ceiling set by the 1999 Berlin European Council for sixs potential members. Of this, a total of 9.8 billion euros was agreed for agriculture.
	For the period 2007–13, the Brussels European Council in October 2002 set ceilings for CAP market support and direct payments. The Commission estimate that for the new member states, direct payments and market support will cost 6.3 billion euros in 2013. However, such expenditure for the EU 25 has been limited in nominal terms to annual growth of 1 per cent. per year from 2006. This is an important constraint on market distorting subsidies. It means that, notwithstanding accession, the cost of CAP direct support should fall in real terms. Rural development ceilings have yet to be determined for the years 2007 onwards.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information in the form requested prior to 1999. The information is not held centrally nor electronically and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
	On four occasions since 1999, this Department and its predecessors abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal, which was then passed by qualified majority voting. A list of the regulations and the dates the UK abstained are as follows:
	April 1999:
	Council Regulation 6422/99—amending Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables.
	December 1999:
	Council Regulation 13613/99 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1251/99 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops.
	Council Regulation 13255/99 (Corrigendum 1) laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.
	October 2001:
	Council Regulation 11978/01 amending Regulation (EC) No. 723/97 on the implementation of member states' action programmes on control of EAGGF Guarantee Section Expenditure.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if she will list the legislation by year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information in the form requested prior to 1999. This information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
	On three occasions since 1999 this Department and its predecessors has been outvoted by qualified majority voting. A list of the relevant legislation by year is as follows:
	2000:
	Council Regulation 8942/00—fixing certain sugar prices and the standard quality of beet for the 2000–01 marketing year.
	Council Regulation 13657/00—amending Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables, Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 on the common organisation of the market in processed fruit and vegetables and Regulation (EC) No. 2202/96 introducing a community aid scheme for producers of certain citrus fruits.
	2001:
	Council Regulation 14442/00—amending Regulation (EC) No. 404/93 on the common organisation of the market in bananas.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties.

Ben Bradshaw: Membership of EU committees and working parties is not fixed and numbers will vary from meeting to meeting of the same committee depending on the subject matter and the need for particular expertise. This Department does not hold central records of the number of policy officials who attend EU committees and working parties. The information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee for the implementation of legislation on ambient air quality assessment and management, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Alun Michael: The committee for the implementation of legislation on ambient air assessment and management does not have a fixed membership, but consists of representatives from each of the European member states. I understand that meetings of the committee are called by the commission as and when required and that there have been no meetings of the committee since Defra came into being in June 2001. The nature of the Committee's decisions will determine the means by which they are communicated to the House.

EU Regulations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations originating from the EU have been implemented by the Department over the last five years.

Alun Michael: Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for implementation in national law.
	The total number of EC Council Regulations made in areas covered by this Department and its predecessors over each of the last five years is estimated to be:
	
		
			  Number of EC Council Regulations 
		
		
			 1999 42 
			 2000 28 
			 2001 41 
			 2002 42 
			 2003 (up to and including June) 19 
		
	
	It should be noted that many of these are small or technical regulations to amend, implement or indeed repeal existing measures.
	Details of all Regulations adopted can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website.

Fisheries

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list (a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House.

Ben Bradshaw: The Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture is the body in which the commission consults representatives of the EU fishery products and aquaculture industry, along with related interests such as consumers and environmentalists, and takes their views on the drafting and implementation of EU measures. It is not attended by officials of Her Majesty's Government, and it produces opinions rather than decisions or any other form of output which would need conveying to the House. Questions about the detailed work of the committee would be for the European Commission to answer.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with biotech companies about liability in circumstances where genetically modified organisms are (a) proven and (b) suspected of being responsible for adverse human health or environmental outcomes;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the liability implications of the use of genetically modified organisms upon (a) Government Departments and (b) the biotech companies which produce GMUs.

Elliot Morley: Defra Ministers have not had any discussions with biotechnology companies specifically about liability for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). EU Member States have recently reached political agreement on an environmental liability directive that will cover the deliberate release of GMOs and contained use of microbiological GMOs in respect of damage to European protected species and natural habitat types. In this context, the relevant biotechnology company may be held liable for damage caused by one of its products. We will consider how the directive is to be implemented in the UK when the details have been finalised.
	The Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission is due to submit a report to Government this summer that explores the issue of liability in relation to GM crops. We will assess the implications of possible further action in this area in the light of that report, including any possible implications for Government Departments.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the antibiotics to which marker genes used in the production of genetically modified crops convey resistance, and the veterinary uses of antibiotics.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 July 2003
	The following table lists antibiotic resistance marker genes (ARMs) present in genetically modified crops that have been released in the UK for research purposes. It also lists the antibiotics to which the marker genes convey resistance, and gives examples of how the antibiotics may be used in veterinary medicine.
	Of the antibiotics listed, kanamycin and hygromycin are not used in veterinary medicine in the UK. The remaining antibiotics—neomycin, ampicillin and amoxycillin—are used in veterinary medicine in a range of products (oral, injectables, ointments and drops) to treat conditions in a variety of animal species. Alternative products are also available.
	
		
			 Gene Antibiotic Veterinary Use (examples) 
		
		
			 nptll or neo Kanamycin Not licensed in the UK 
			  Neomycin Treatment of bacterial skin infections, including dermatitis and eczema in cats and dogs. Treatment of enteritis in pigs and poultry. 
			
			 Bla Ampicillin Treatment of bacterial infections in cattle, pigs and sheep. Treatment of mastitis in cattle 
			  Amoxycillin Treatment of bacterial infections in cats and dogs. Treatment of respiratory and urogenital tract infections in cattle, pigs and sheep 
			
			 Hptll Hygromycin Not licensed in the UK 
		
	
	The nptll gene is present in some GM crops already licensed for placing on the market in the EU.
	Applications to release or market genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the EU are subject to rigorous scrutiny and risk assessment under European Directive 2001/18. The Directive requires that GMOs containing ARMs are subject to a particularly high degree of scrutiny and if such a GMO was considered to have adverse effects on the environment it would not be authorised. This includes consideration of the implications for both human and veterinary medicines.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many completed feedback forms have been received from the GM Nation website.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2003
	As of 9 a.m. on 8 July 10,600 feedback forms had been completed via the GM Nation website.

Graffiti

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the statutory undertakers about graffiti on their street furniture or other property; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: One option we included in the Defra-led consultation exercise "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities" was to create a new duty on the owners of street furniture to keep their relevant property clear of graffiti and flyposting.
	We received a number of responses to the consultation exercise on this option from statutory undertakers, including British Telecom, NTL, Telewest Broadband and Adshel. All that responded were willing to discuss the issues with Government. Defra officials with Home Office colleagues are meeting British Telecom representatives shortly.

Household Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government plans to investigate options for charging schemes for household waste with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) other stakeholders.

Elliot Morley: In its response to the Strategy Unit report, the Government has undertaken to carry out further work before any decision is taken to enable local authorities to implement direct or variable charging for waste. This will look at the practicalities of operating schemes, how potential disadvantages could be overcome, and will analyse international experience of such schemes. The work will be carried out in co-operation with the Local Government Association and other stakeholders and will start this summer thus enabling Government to review its position on this in 2004.
	Issues to be addressed in the further work include
	(a) The potential concerns about the effects of pilot schemes:
	how to ensure that a local authority has facilities and services in place to help householders reduce or recycle waste (e.g. help with home composting, kerbside collection of separate materials for recycling) when they introduce a pilot scheme to ensure public support;
	how to make any charges equitable (e.g. reflect size of household and ability to pay);
	the enforcement issues to prevent waste tourism (householders using free/cheaper facilities in neighbouring authorities) and fly-tipping.
	(b) The practical and financial arrangements for schemes:
	what is the cost of introducing and administering schemes;
	how will any additional net revenue raised by pilot schemes be used;
	how will the financial arrangements for pilot schemes interact with other local authority funding for waste, council tax etc;
	what new legal powers are required.
	(c) The potential effectiveness of pilot schemes on reducing waste, increasing recycling etc.—drawing on international experience.

Household Waste

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of barriers in terms of regulatory control to an increase in the composting of household waste.

Elliot Morley: The Animal By-products Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 July and the previous ban on composting kitchen waste has been lifted and replaced by a registration/licensing system of facilities that wish to take part in this activity. The system is controlled by the state veterinary service and enforced by local authorities. The aim of the Regulations is to minimise the burdens on the composting industry while safeguarding animal and public health. Like all facilities involved with managing waste, large scale composting plants also require a waste management licence from the Environment Agency. Building new plants would require planning permission. These requirements do not in themselves create barriers, but allow facilities to be judged against environmental standards and local development plans.
	A large number of local authorities already compost garden waste and/or encourage home composting. We would expect the amount of waste that is composted or used in biogas production to increase once the ban on composting kitchen waste is lifted.

Household Waste

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the latest figures are for the proportion of organic household waste composted (a) in England and (b) in the North East; and what plans she has to increase the amount composted in the next five years.

Elliot Morley: In 2001–02 the percentage of household waste composted in (a) England was 3.7 per cent. and in (b) the North East was 0.5 per cent.
	As part of the Government's response to the Strategy Unit's "Waste Not, Want Not" Report, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will take forward a number of waste minimisation schemes, including a home composting scheme to increase the number of households carrying out home composting and to promote the effectiveness of the composting carried out.
	WRAP will also set up a kerbside task force (the Recycling and Organics Technical Advisory Team—ROTATE) to work with local authorities to help maximise the potential of kerbside collection for all materials, particularly biodegradable organics. Alongside this, WRAP will implement an organics market development programme to provide material specific support and investment to the composting sector, to ensure sustainable and reliable markets are secured for the additional tonnage of organic material collected. Underpinning these activities, WRAP will implement an education and awareness programme. This will operate at both a national level, raising the general public's awareness of waste issues and the benefits of recycling, and at a local level, to support both local authority recycling (linked to ROTATE) and issue specific programmes relating to waste minimisation initiatives as outlined.
	In addition, the Animal By-products Regulations 2003 come into force on 1 July and the current ban on composting kitchen waste will then be lifted and replaced by a registration/licensing system of facilities that wish to take part in this activity. We would expect the amount of waste that is composted or used in biogas production to increase once the ban on composting kitchen waste is lifted.

Kyoto Protocol

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received from the United Nations on the UK's performance in meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

Elliot Morley: The UK submits periodic national communications to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These communications describe historical and projected greenhouse gas emissions, and are subject to review by international experts coordinated by the Secretariat to the Convention. These reviews are designed to provide the Conference of the Parties with a technical assessment of the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol by individual Parties. The most recent UNFCCC review of the UK's Third National Communication took place in 2002. The report, published by the UNFCCC, concludes that the UK is likely to meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
	The UNFCCC in depth review of the UK's Third National Communication is available online at: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/idr/gbr03.pdf

Livestock Farms

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many livestock farms there are in England.

Ben Bradshaw: In June 2002, the Agricultural and Horticultural Census indicates there were nearly 67,000 agricultural holdings where the principal activity was livestock.
	
		
			 Holdings in England 2002 by farm type  
		
		
			 Pigs and poultry 6,991 
			 Dairy 14,342 
			 Cattle and sheep in less favoured areas 11,763 
			 Cattle and sheep lowland 33,778 
			 Total 66,874 
		
	
	Note:There were 10,284 holdings classified as mixed farming which includes elements of livestock farming.
	The total number of holdings recording any livestock (pigs, cattle, sheep, poultry, farmed deer, goats or horses) in 2002 was nearly 108,000.

Maritime Radioactive Discharges

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what progress has been made towards reducing levels of radioactive discharges and of additional contamination in the marine environment by 2020; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the level was of radioactivity discharged into the marine environment by type and location in each year since 1998;
	(3)  what progress the Government have made towards achieving reductions of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances as agreed during the 1998 meeting of environment Ministers at Sintra;
	(4)  what the level of radioactive discharges from Sellafield has been in each of the last five years by type; and what the projected level is for the next five years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 July 2003
	There have been large and sustained reductions in discharges of the most radiologically significant radionuclides in the last 25 years, particularly those resulting from reprocessing nuclear fuel, such that current discharges from that sector are currently just 1 per cent. of their peak levels in the 1970s. The Government are committed to achieving further reductions in discharges by 2020 in order to implement the OSPAR Strategy with regard to Radioactive Substances, which was agreed by Ministers at Sintra in 1998. A UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges, 2001–20, was published in July 2002, which sets out how we shall achieve these further reductions and includes broad projections for future discharges from each sector of the nuclear industry. Key milestones are the cessation of Magnox fuel and uranium hexafluoride production at Springfields by 2006 and the end of Magnox fuel reprocessing at Sellafield by around 2012. The document is in the Library and is available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/radioactivity/discharge/strategy/index.htm.
	Detailed information on radioactive discharges and environmental concentrations, by type of radionuclide and location, can be found in the annual publication, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE), produced jointly by the Food Standards Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Copies are in the Library and the 2002 edition (containing data for 2001) is on the Food Standards Agency's website at: www.foodstandards.gov.uk/science/suveillance/radio/89684.
	The RIFE report for 2002 is due to be published shortly.
	Discharges of total alpha, total beta (excluding tritium) and tritium from Sellafield since 1998 were as follows (figures in TBq).
	
		
			  Total alpha Total beta Tritium 
		
		
			 1998 0.174 85.9 2,309 
			 1999 0.133 110 2,520 
			 2000 0.120 77.0 2,300 
			 2001 0.202 123 2,600 
		
	
	For Sellafield, projected discharges, as annualised five year averages, are as follows (figures in TBq per year).
	
		
			 Period Total alpha Total beta Tritium 
		
		
			 2001–2005 0.310 165 9,280 
			 2006–2010 0.310 104 8,930 
			 2011–2015 0.251 75.1 9,110 
			 2016–2020 0.200 53.7 9,520

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South, (Mr. Alexander), on 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 662W.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year.

Alun Michael: Using a wide definition of mental health, including such issues as stress and alcoholism, 659 people out of the 10,568 staff employed in Defra took sick leave during 2002 due to mental health problems.
	The Department is committed to the effective support of staff and management of sickness absence as well as to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement for reducing sickness absence by the end of 2003. The Department is also committed to reducing the number of working days lost from work related injury and ill health, in response to the government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.
	The departmental response includes the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Pesticides Safety Directorate Agencies. Responsibility for sickness absence within the Central Science Laboratory Agency, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Rural Payments Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Agency has been delegated to the Agency Chief Executives and I have asked them to reply direct.
	Letter from Professor Mike Roberts to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated May 2003
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply, with respect to the Central Science Laboratory, to your question concerning how many staff took sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year.
	In the calendar year 2002, a total of 26 CSL staff took sick leave for reasons that could justifiably be classified as 'mental health'.
	CSL has been successful in managing sickness absence through innovations such as recruiting a dedicated Occupational Health professional, running regular health awareness campaigns and carrying out all-staff health surveys. This has contributed to CSL achieving the Civil Service sickness absence target of 7.2 days per employee a year early.
	CSL remains closely aware of it's legal duty to provide a safe working environment for all it's employees and is committed both to operating best practice in this area and to meeting the targets set out in the 'Revitalising Health & Safety' initiative.
	Letter from Professor Steven Edwards to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated May 2003
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on how many of her staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year.
	51 Staff in the VLA took sick leave during 2002 due to mental health problems.
	VLA is committed to the effective management of sickness absence and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement for reducing sickness absence by the end of 2003. We are also committed to reducing the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill health, in response to the government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sick days were lost over the last year by her Department through staff mental health problems.

Alun Michael: Out of a total of 2,324,960 potential calendar working days for staff in Defra 21,854 were lost during 2002 due to staff sickness with mental health problems. These figures include the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Pesticides Safety Directorate Agencies. Responsibility for sickness absence within the Central Science Laboratory Agency, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Rural Payments Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Agency has been delegated to the Agency Chief Executives and I have asked them to reply direct.
	Letter from Professor Mike Roberts to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated May 2003
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply, with respect to the Central Science Laboratory, to your question concerning how many sick days were lost by CSL due to staff mental health problems in the last year.
	In the calendar year 2002, CSL lost a total of 684 work days for reasons that could justifiably be classified as 'mental health'.
	CSL has been successful in managing sickness absence through innovations such as recruiting a dedicated Occupational Health professional, running regular health awareness campaigns and carrying out all-staff health surveys. This has contributed to CSL achieving the Civil Service sickness absence target of 7.2 days per employee a year early.
	CSL remains closely aware of it's legal duty to provide a safe working environment for all it's employees and is committed both to operating best practice in this area and to meeting the targets set out in the 'Revitalising Health & Safety' initiative.
	Letter from Professor Steven Edwards to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated May 2003
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on how many sick days were lost over the last year by her department through staff mental health problems.
	3,002 calendar days were lost in the VLA during 2002 due to staff sickness with mental health problems.
	VLA is committed to the effective management of sickness absence and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement for reducing sickness absence by the end of 2003. We are also committed to reducing the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill health, in response to the government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.
	Letter from Peter Greig-Smith to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated May 2003
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has asked me to reply to your questions regarding mental health problems. I am replying on behalf of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
	PQ 2872
	From the 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 28 members of staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems.
	PQ 2874
	From the 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 493 working days were lost through staff mental health problems.
	PQ 2875
	From the 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 Nil return for staff retiring on medical grounds due to mental health problems.
	CEFAS has successfully introduced a scheme for 'Return to Workplace' interviews and is fully committed to managing attendance effectively. We are on target for achieving the reduced levels of sickness absence we have set out for the Agency.
	Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 26 March 2003
	I have been asked to respond directly to your three recent Parliamentary Questions concerning mental health issues.
	I will address your first two questions together:
	Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of his staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year.
	Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sick days were lost over the last year by his Department through staff mental health problems.
	Information on the number of staff who have taken sick leave due to mental health reasons and how many days were lost over the last year through staff mental health problems is not available for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
	RPA is a relatively new organisation formed in October 2001. As such we are still developing a computerised Personnel System to provide sickness absence data of the kind requested. Specific information on numbers of staff absent and days lost due to mental health problems over the last year could only be obtained at disproportionate administrative cost and time.
	Turning to your third question:
	Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of his staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year.
	Two members of staff from the RPA retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year.
	RPA is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to meeting internal performance targets for reducing sickness absence for 2003–04. We have developed a sickness absence management policy and procedures that includes a revised strategy for managing long term sickness absence, for implementation from May 2003.
	RPA also acts responsibly to the legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees and is committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally due to work related injuries and illness, arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

Mercury

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to assess the health impacts of mercury emissions into the environment (a) generally and (b) from crematoria; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The UK has already taken steps to assess the impacts of mercury in a range of environmental compartments. We contributed to the production of WHO Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, and have adopted the same statutory limit for drinking water as the WHO drinking water guideline value. The WHO drinking water guideline is currently being revised and we will consider what, if any, reassessment would be required in light of changes made. An assessment of health impacts from mercury contaminated soils has been undertaken and two reports "Collation of toxicological data and intake values for humans—Mercury" and "Soil Guideline Values for inorganic mercury contamination" were published last year. Both are available on the Defra website at www.defraweb/environment/landliability/pubs.htm. Dietary exposure to mercury is mainly in the form of methylmercury in fish and is assessed against international guidelines for methylmercury. The Food Standards Agency issues advice to consumers to limit consumption of certain species offish, so that exposure is within these guidelines.
	(b) My Department issued a consultation on an assessment by the Environment Agency's Local Authority Unit on mercury emissions from crematoria on 7 May with comments requested by 7 August. A copy is available on the Defra website at www.defraweb/corporate/consult/crematoria/consultation.pdf
	Work is continuing in this area. A global assessment of mercury was published by the United Nations Environment Programme earlier this year and an action plan is being developed. In addition, the European Commission propose to develop a Strategy on Mercury in 2004 to protect human health and the environment from the release of mercury. This work is expected to reassess the health impacts of mercury and the UK will contribute to the development of this Strategy.

Mining

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency's policy is towards (a) supporting open-cast coal planning applications and (b) supporting open-cast coal planning applications on green-belt land.

Elliot Morley: For any planning application for open cast mining, the Environment Agency's role is that of a statutory consultee. The Agency provides technical and scientific advice to the local planning authority on those potential impacts of the proposed development relevant to the Agency's environmental and flood risk management responsibilities.

Mining

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency's policy is towards supporting open-cast coal planning applications on land which they own that is designated as green-belt land.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency have no specific policy regarding open-cast mining on land which they own. The Agency will look to maximize opportunities for environmental enhancements on their land although each scheme must be looked at on its own merits.

Real Nappies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authority posts of Real Nappy Project Development Officers there are.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 July 2003
	The Department does not collate information on the number of Real Nappy Development Officers in local authorities.
	Nappy projects generally form part of a council's activities on waste minimisation. It is up to local authorities to decide whether work on nappy projects requires the creation of dedicated posts and how they are described.

Occidental Jetty, Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the owners of the Occidental Jetty on Canvey Island and (b) others on possible future uses of that jetty.

Elliot Morley: None.

Organophosphates

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last research sponsored by her Department into the toxicity of organophosphate sheep dips and their likely (a) environmental impact and (b) impact on human health was.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the earlier reply given to him by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Mr. Morley) on this issue, on 1 May 2003, Official Report, column 468W. The following table details the current position on each of the Defra sponsored research projects into the toxicity of organophosphate (OP) sheep dips and their impact on human health.
	
		
			 Title Project ID Funding Body Contractor Start date End date Status 
		
		
			 Survey of health complaints among sheep-dippers VM0299 Defra Science Directorate London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine January 2001 August 2003 Work in progress 
			 Dose effect profiles for OP sheep dip on brain electrical activity and cognitive performance VM0279 Defra Science Directorate DSTL, Porton Down April 1998 December 2002 Completed 
			 Disabling neuropsychiatric disease in farmers exposed to organophosphates. VM02115 Defra Science Directorate /DH Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester January 2002 (FMD delay) June 2005 Work in progress 
			 Characterisation of non-acetylcholinesterase actions of organophosphates by identification of novel protein targets VM02117 Defra Science Directorate Neurotoxicology Section, MRC Applied Neuroscience Group, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. June 2001 June 2003 Work in progress 
			 Investigation of possible autoimmune responses induced by organophosphate exposure VM02116 Defra Science Directorate Health and Safety Laboratory, Sheffield April 2001 December 2003 Work in progress 
			 A case-controlled study of neuropsychological and psychiatric functioning in sheep farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides — Defra Science Directorate University College London — — Start imminent (three years expected duration) 
			 Assessment of pattern and extent of autonomic abnormalities in a group of sheep farmers and dippers — Defra Science Directorate Imperial College — — Proposal 
		
	
	The Environment Agency has and continues to undertake a number of studies into the environmental impact of OP (and synthetic pyrethroid) sheep dips. The Agency undertakes chemical and biological monitoring of rivers covering the main sheep rearing areas and reports the findings, including failures of Environmental Quality Standards, on its website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk. A study into the impact of sheep dip disposal on terrestrial invertebrate life and possible knock-on effects to insect-feeding birds has been completed recently and will be published shortly. In addition, there is on-going research into the environmental fate of disposed sheep dip and its potential impacts on surface and ground waters.

Ospreys

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate the reports she has received that ospreys have been shot and their nest site destroyed in the area surrounding the River Eden in North Cumbria; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: All wild birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which implements the EC Birds Directive in Great Britain. It is an offence under Section 1 to kill, injure or take any wild bird, take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is being built or destroy or take the eggs of any wild bird. In addition to this, birds listed on Schedule 1, such as the Osprey, are also protected from disturbance whilst it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young.
	Defra and English Nature takes very seriously the protection of all species of wild birds, especially those listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended).
	Neither the Department, nor English Nature, have received any evidence of the persecution of osprey's in Cumbria. Any such evidence should be passed to the police immediately for investigation.

Private Marinas

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the acquisition by British Waterways of privately owned marinas.

Margaret Beckett: British Waterways is a public corporation with statutory powers to acquire land and to provide services and facilities for the amenity or recreational use of its waterways. It wishes to see a diverse and competitive market for marinas and related businesses along its waterways in order to provide a range of services and facilities for both boaters and visitors.
	British Waterways is committed to operating its marinas in a fair and open way and will shortly be bringing forward proposals to increase transparency in its marina businesses. I welcome this move.

Recycling

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the number of local authorities that are meeting their targets for recycling; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Local authority Statutory Performance Standards ('targets') for recycling and composting of household waste have been set for the years 2003–04 and 2005–06. Local authorities will submit performance data, against which the 2003–04 targets will be measured, to the Audit Commission in summer 2004 and audited performance figures will be available towards the end of 2004.
	Targets for individual authorities are published on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/management/guidance/mwms/10.htm.
	The most recent data on progress towards achieving targets are for 2001–02. Local authority figures are available through the Best Value Performance Indicator website at www.bvpi.gov.uk . These data show a wide range in performance with some authorities already achieving their individual targets and others, generally with the larger percentage increases, still with some way to go. Data for future years are more likely to show the impact of action being taken to achieve targets which were only set in 2001.
	The Audit Commission will make audited performance figures for the year 2002–03 available later this year.

Scallop Fishing

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has (a) received from and (b) made to the Scottish Executive concerning bans on scallop fishing in Scotland since the establishment of the Food Standards Agency, broken down by (i) subject matter of representation, (ii) date and (iii) responsible minister.

Ben Bradshaw: I am not aware that any such representations have been received or made. Responsibilities for this matter lie with the Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency Scotland.

Sharks

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Ministers about the killing of sharks; what proposals there are to change EU policy; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 July 2003
	A regulation restricting the practice of shark finning has been adopted at a recent Council of Ministers meeting. We were able to get the text of the measure before the council strengthened to include additional control clauses and a commitment to a complete review of the regulation.
	We have also been pressing the European Commission to bring forward action to fulfil the EU's commitment to implement the UN Food and Agriculture Organisations 1999 International Plan of Action for the conservation and management of sharks; I am pleased to report that work will begin shortly on the development and implementation of a Community Plan of Action. This work will also contribute to the review of the shark finning regulation. I will be working for agreement on a comprehensive management plan which will provide effective protection for sharks.

Soil Improver

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with officers from the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority regarding their soil improver product; and what assessment she has made of whether the soil improver product will meet the requirements of the Animal By-products Order.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 712W. No further discussions have taken place. The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 July, and will permit the treatment of catering waste and low-risk animal by-products in composting/biogas premises. No assessment of such premises or their products could be made before 1 July, as the process was not legal before that date.

Waste Management

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in examining whether there is a link between gas emissions from landfill and hazardous waste sites and birth defects.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 1 July 2003
	Following a 1998 European study (the first EUROHAZCON study—Dolk, H et al; www.lshtm.ac/eeu/research.hmtl) that reported a higher rate of non-chromosomal anomalies among people living near hazardous waste sites, the Government commissioned a programme of work on health effects of landfill sites including a much more extensive national study by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (Elliott, P et al; www.imperial.ac.uk/p396.htm). This was published in the summer of 2001.
	The SAHSU study looked at the rates of all birth defects (chromosomal and non-chromosomal) and found only a slightly higher rate (1 per cent.) in populations living near landfill sites and a 7 per cent. higher rate near hazardous waste sites. The Government's expert advisory committee, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, noted that this excess risk was small and could be accounted for by factors other than the landfill sites. The study has not shown, or, indeed, could show, a causal link between landfill sites and birth defects.
	However, the Government recognised that, in the light of the findings of these various studies, more research was needed on the health impacts of landfill sites. As a result, Defra, the Environment Agency and the Department of Health have a considerable amount of research either planned or already under way. Among the projects planned is one related specifically to emissions from hazardous waste sites.
	Also, the Government have commissioned a review of the environmental and health effects of all waste disposal, and management options. They aim to report on the findings of this review later in the year. The review will provide a rational side-by-side comparison of the impacts of different waste management options, which will inform Government policy, and assist local authorities and other relevant bodies in making waste management decisions.

Waste Management

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Municipal Waste Management Statistics 2001–02 will be published.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 July 2003
	Summary results for the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2001–02 were published on 22 May 2003. The information can be found at the Defra website at http://www. defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/bulletin/index.htm.
	The bulletin with more detailed results is due to be published in August 2003, and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Waste Management

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken to improve waste management.

Elliot Morley: The Government have done a great deal to improve waste management. "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales" 1 was published in May 2000. It describes the government's vision for managing waste and resources better, and sets out the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.
	Progress against the targets set out in the Waste Strategy can be found in this year's Departmental Report 2 . Most recently, the Government have published its response 3 to the Strategy Unit report on waste, this sets out a package of strategic measures that will help to boost the minimisation, re-use and recycling of municipal waste, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.
	1 Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales' Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
	2 'Defra Department Report 2003' Defra, May 2003. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm
	3 'Government response to Strategy Unit' report 'Waste not, Want not' Defra, May 2003 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/review/index.htm

Water Abstraction

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency in respect of water abstraction guidance.

Elliot Morley: Since the introduction of the Water Bill to Parliament, the Department has discussed with the Environment Agency guidance on time limited licences, including presumption of renewal. We expect this guidance to be revised in light of any changes to the proposals during the course of the Water Bill.

Waterways

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the potential conflict of interest between British Waterways' responsibilities as a regulator and its role as a waterways business operator.

Margaret Beckett: It is clearly an advantage to have synergy within British Waterways in respect of navigation work and its work as an operator and on the field of regeneration. I am aware of the need to deal clearly with any potential conflicts of interest between British Waterways' statutory functions as a navigation authority and its role as a business operator. I am therefore pleased that British Waterways plans shortly to consult on its proposals to improve its wider accountability and consultation processes.

Wildlife Sites

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to publish guidance on establishing a common approach to managing local wildlife sites;
	(2)  what recent representations she has received from local authorities about the actions required to promote and protect local wildlife sites.

Ben Bradshaw: Officials in this Department and English Nature have been drawing up guidance on local wildlife sites taking into account the work of the Local Sites Review Group, which among others comprised representatives from the Local Government Association, Welsh Local Government Association and the Association of Local Government Ecologists. The aim is to provide a framework to help establish a consistent approach to the identification and management of these sites. During the course of this work, a number of representations have also been received from individual local authorities.
	We are in the process of finalising this guidance and we aim to publish it before the end of the year.

Wildlife Sites

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local wildlife sites are managed by the wildlife trusts; what funding her Department gives to the wildlife trusts for this purpose; and what information her Department receives from the wildlife trusts about their performance.

Ben Bradshaw: I understand from the Wildlife Trusts' publication "Status of UK Wildlife Site Systems 2002" that there are 76 local wildlife site systems in operation across England, which have selected 34,965 sites. The Wildlife Trusts lead or are a lead partner in 82 per cent. of these systems.
	The Department does not provide direct funding for the management of local wildlife sites. However English Nature has provided local Wildlife Trusts with 767,000 under its Wildspace grants scheme, for the management of many local nature reserves in order to help local communities enjoy, care for and improve their local wildlife resources.
	The Department does provide funding to the UK Office of the Wildlife Trusts towards the co-ordination of their conservation strategy and policy for the organisation. This includes work on planning, biodiversity and marine wildlife conservation. Last year we announced that funding totalling £675,000 would be provided over three years. The grant is paid on a quarterly basis and on the production of quarterly performance reports, based on targets agreed in a work programme at the beginning of the year.
	In addition between 2002 and 2004 some £637,020 will be provided to 10 County Wildlife Trusts to enable them to co-ordinate and contribute to the delivery of local and regional biodiversity action plans.

TREASURY

Biofuels

Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the financial incentives necessary to achieve (a) 2 per cent. take-up by the end of 2005 and (b) 5.75 per cent. take-up by the end of 2010 of biodiesel and bioethanol road fuel.

John Healey: My hon. Friend is referring to the European Commission's suggested indicative targets for the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels. Member states are required to set their own indicative targets to be met in the years 2005 and 2010, and we will be consulting key stakeholders in due course on what these targets might be and on the most appropriate ways of meeting them, so that our decisions are based on a proper assessment of the costs and benefits.
	We have already put in place a number of measures to give incentive to the production and use of biofuels in the UK. In his Budget statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced that, from 1 January 2005, we would introduce a duty incentive for bioethanol, set at 20 pence per litre below the rate for sulphur-free petrol. Biodiesel already benefits from a duty incentive of 20 pence per litre below the rate for ultra-low sulphur diesel.

Income Tax

Harry Barnes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a consultative document outlining a range of different options for future income tax policies.

Paul Boateng: The Government sets out their policies on income tax rates and allowances in the Budget and pre-Budget reports.

Income Tax

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the impact on the level of income tax of a transfer of all changes in the total level of taxation since 1997 to income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: As a result of personal tax and benefit reforms since 1997, households will be, on average £775 a year better off in real terms by October 2003.

Pensioner Living Standards

Anne Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he will take to improve the living standards of pensioners.

Paul Boateng: From October, the Government are introducing the Pension Credit at a cost of £2 billion in its first full year. Including Pension Credit and other measures, compared with the 1997 system, on average pensioner households will be £1,250 a year better off in real terms with the poorest third around £1,600 a year better off—over £30 a week.

Small Business Taxation

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of rises in taxation since 1997 on small businesses.

John Healey: The Government have taken a number of steps to reduce the impact of the tax system on small business and to reward entrepreneurship; including the introduction of a zero rate of corporation tax, tax credits for R&D, reductions in the rates of income tax and measures to reduce the administrative burden of VAT.

Mortgages

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of an increase in the number of fixed rate mortgages on economic management.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor has asked David Miles, Professor of Finance at Imperial College, to undertake a review of the UK's fixed rate mortgage market.
	This will involve an examination of whether there has been any market failure that has held back the market for fixed and long-term fixed rate mortgages and a consideration of associated opportunities, risks and potential costs.
	Professor Miles will deliver an interim report by autumn and a comprehensive report and recommendations to the Chancellor by Budget 2004.

New Deal

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of the windfall tax on privatised utilities to fund the New Deal.

Paul Boateng: The New Deal for Young People and the New Deal for 25+ have both contributed significantly to cutting long-term youth and long-term unemployment by more than three-quarters since 1997.
	Almost 430,000 long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds have found jobs through NDYP, while ND25+ had helped more than 145,000 older people back into work and over 193,000 people have found employment through the New Deal for Lone Parents.
	The Government have established a comprehensive program of independent and in-house evaluation for all the New Deals, and is fully committed to ensuring that the lessons learned contribute to continuous improvements in the performance of the New Deals in helping people into work.
	This evaluation program has demonstrated the success of the New Deal. In 2000, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) found that, without NDYP, the level of long-term youth unemployment would have been twice as high as it actually was. Independent evaluation evidence also confirms the overwhelmingly positive impact of NDLP in helping lone parents into work and suggests that the programme more than doubles the employment chances of participants.

Employment

Mark Tami: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on current employment levels and their impact on the economy.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 10 July 2003, Official Report, column 1360.

Equitable Life

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the Penrose inquiry into Equitable Life.

Paul Boateng: Lord Penrose's inquiry is independent of the Treasury. The conduct of the inquiry is entirely a matter for him.
	However, I understand that he is now in the process of drafting his report. He has said that he intends to report to Treasury Ministers later this summer.

Council Tax

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003, Official Report, columns 746–47W, on council tax, what the council tax was as a percentage of gross income for (a) female-headed households and (b) male-headed households in each income decile in England in the financial year 2001–02.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 10 July 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for a break down of council tax as a percentage of gross income in England in 2001–02 by (a) female-headed households and (b) male-headed households consistent with estimates given in my previous answer of 10th June for households in Great Britain. (124370)
	Estimates for council taxes and income are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the Office for National Statistics and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003, and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. Sample sizes are only sufficient to allow a breakdown to be given by quintiles of income distribution and not by decile.
	The Household Reference Person is identified during the interview and is defined as the member of the household who:
	a. owns the household accommodation, or
	b. is legally responsible for the rent of the accommodation, or
	c. has the household accommodation as an emolument or perquisite, or
	d. has the household accommodation by virtue of some relationship to the owner who is not a member of the household.
	If there are joint householders, the Household Reference Person will be the householder with the highest income. If the income is the same, then the eldest householder is taken.
	
		Council tax as a percentage of gross income for female-headed and male-headed(1) households, 2001–02 -- Percentage
		
			 England Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income 
			 Households Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  Top All households 
		
		
			 Quintile points(2)(equivalised disposable income, £ per year)   
			 Female-headed  9,573  12,766  17,451  25,709   
			 Male-headed  11,466  16,583  22,412  30,545   
			
			 Gross council tax   
			 Female-headed 7.8  5.3  3.8  2.7  1.4 2.8 
			 Male-headed 6.5  3.7  2.7  2.1  1.3 2.3 
			
			 Net council tax(3)   
			 Female-headed 4.5  3.1  3.0  2.5  1.4 2.2 
			 Male-headed 4.7  3.2  2.6  2.1  1.3 2.1 
		
	
	(1) Households where the household reference person is female or male.
	(2) Equivalised disposable income at the boundary point between two quintile groups.
	(3) Net council taxes after deducting benefits and discounts.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income", published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No. 594 May 2003

Euro

Angela Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library his analysis of the constitutional implications of replacing the pound sterling with the euro.

Paul Boateng: As the Chancellor said in his statement to Parliament on 9 June 2003:
	"The Government's view is that if the economic case is clear and unambiguous then the constitutional issue, while a factor in the decision, should not be a barrier to entry."

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the total monthly cost to the UK of (a) civil and (b) military operations in Iraq.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury does not estimate such costs in the manner requested. In April 2003, the Department for International Development set aside £210 million for reconstruction and humanitarian work in Iraq. As of 26 June, £154 million of this has been allocated to UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and NGOs. A further £60 million was set aside by the Chancellor in the Budget to support the work of the UN on the reconstruction and development of Iraq.
	It would be premature to make an estimate of the total costs of the recent military campaign in Iraq. The Chancellor announced in the Budget a £3 billion special reserve.

Taxes and Benefits

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which taxes were the main component elements of the (a) other indirect taxes and (b) other intermediate taxes described in the document "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02"; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 10 July 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking which taxes were the main component elements of (a) other indirect taxes and (b) other intermediate taxes, described in the document "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02". I am replying in his absence. (124449)
	The above document was produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. Indirect taxes paid by households are estimated approximately for this analysis.
	Indirect taxes paid by households on final goods and services are broken down in the tables into: VAT; duty on tobacco, alcohol and hydrocarbon oils; vehicle excise duty; television licences; stamp duties on house purchase; customs duties; betting taxes; insurance premium tax; air passenger duty; Camelot National Lottery Fund; and 'other indirect taxes'. The components of 'other indirect taxes' are: stamp duties on share dealings, legal and commercial documents; and taxi licenses.
	Total 'intermediate taxes' are that portion of 'indirect taxes' which are passed on by businesses to households. These are broken down in the tables into: commercial and industrial rates; employers' National Insurance contributions; duty on hydrocarbon oil; vehicle excise duty; and 'other intermediate taxes'. The main components of 'other intermediate taxes' are the estimates of VAT and stamp duty, which are passed on by businesses to households.

Trade Union Representatives

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what protection is afforded to people among his staff who are trade union representatives, with particular regard to (a) pay and conditions and (b) promotion.

John Healey: A number of Treasury staff are allocated paid time off under the departmental facilities agreement to carry out industrial relations and trade union activities. All staff, regardless of duties, are assessed in the same way for pay purposes and promotion opportunities.

PRIME MINISTER

Hospitality (Tobacco Companies)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what hospitality he has accepted from senior executive officers of tobacco companies and from major shareholders in those companies since January 2000.

Tony Blair: Any hospitality that I receive is dealt with in line with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code, and declared in the normal way.

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on whether any of the provisions of the proposed new constitutional treaty presented to the Inter-Governmental Conference cannot be amended under the provisions of the existing treaty.

Tony Blair: The provisions of the existing EU treaties, including those for amendment, will only be changed if all member states agree to a new Constitutional Treaty, replacing the existing treaties, and if that Treaty is ratified by all 25 member states. The provisions of a new Constitutional Treaty, once in force, would replace the existing treaties, including those provisions governing treaty amendment.

Foreign Decorations

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to paragraph 86 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, (a) how many Ministers have accepted decorations from foreign countries since 1 May 1997; (b) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of this paragraph; and (c) whether he intends to refuse any such decoration offered to him.

Tony Blair: holding answer 13 June 2003
	Paragraph 86 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct (July 2001) is about the acceptance of air miles. Guidance to Ministers on the acceptance of decorations from foreign countries is set out in paragraph 90 of the Ministerial Code.
	The Ministerial Code is a code of conduct and guidance on procedures for
	Ministers.
	Any offer of a decoration from a foreign state would be considered in the light of that guidance.
	As far as I am aware, there is a record of one occasion in 2002 where Angela Smith MP was awarded the Cuban medal of friendship as a member of Parliament in recognition of her work as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his discussions on the aircraft carrier contract with BAE Systems and Thales.

Adam Ingram: Regular discussions occur between the future carrier (CVF) project team, BAE Systems and Thales United Kingdom as part of the routine business of the Assessment Phase. These cover and include issues relating to the contract for Stage 3 of the Assessment Phase.

Armed Forces (Maintenance Payments)

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlie the length of time taken between the deduction of maintenance payments from service personnel's wages and its subsequent payment to separated partners.

Ivor Caplin: When a Deduction from Earnings Request is received by Armed Forces Pay Authorities, a letter is sent to the individual with a copy of the request. This allows the individual six weeks from the date of the letter to contest the request. If no reply is received then the request is imposed, with the amounts deducted being paid to the Child Support Agency for subsequent payment to separated partners.

Civil Contingency Reaction Forces

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when each of the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces will be operational.

Adam Ingram: Civil Contingency Reaction Forces will reach Full Operating Capability by 31 December 2003.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was sufficient and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority;
	(2)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting;
	(3)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year;
	(4)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Ivor Caplin: Although Defence Ministers meet regularly to discuss defence issues as part of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, they are not involved in legislation. Decisions on the common strategies, common positions and joint actions which the European Council may adopt in support of its Common Foreign and Security Policy require unanimity.

Defence Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2003, Official Report, column 510W, on defence procurement, what assessment he has made of the ability of his Department to forecast the in service dates (ISD) and costs of major procurement projects; what plans he has for ensuring that projects are delivered (a) on their forecast ISD and (b) on their original budget; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: An important element of the defence "Smart Acquisition" process is the reduction of risk during the early phases of a programme so that at the main approval point ("Main Gate") there is a high level of confidence that project targets, including ISD and budgets, will be achieved. In support of this risk reduction process the use of a Three Point Estimating methodology for both time and cost has been approved.
	To ensure the quality of our estimating the Department provides guidance, training and computer tools to support the process. In addition specialist support for both the production of estimates and the risk management process is available.
	The Defence Procurement Agency this year created two teams to support project offices across the Defence Acquisition community in using a systematic methodology for risk management and estimating. A key element of this initiative is the use of a Risk Maturity Model to assess major projects against a number of perspectives, including whether risks have been fully identified and analysed, whether risk mitigation controls are being managed as planned, and whether the projects are positioned to provide robust and reliable estimates of both time and cost to completion.
	The Model assessment gives an indication of how well risk and estimating are being managed within a project through the provision of a Level score from 1, naive through to 4, natural. From March 2004, all of our high value projects seeking Main Gate approval will be expected to have achieved a score of Level 3 or better, which will mean that projects have built the management of risk into their routine business processes and are implementing risk management throughout the project.
	The Department continues to monitor closely its performance in forecasting and continually seeks examples of good practice which may be adopted to enhance and improve our existing processes and performance.

Eurofighter/Typhoon Programme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimated additional cost to the Euro fighter/Typhoon programme is attributable to the delays to that programme.

Adam Ingram: The estimated additional cost to the Euro fighter Typhoon programme attributable to the two delays since the production contracts were placed in 1998 is approximately £610 million. Some 25 per cent. of this represents additional cash expenditure incurred by the Department because of inflation. The remaining 75 per cent. represents 'non-cash' cost of capital charges incurred by the Defence Procurement Agency as a result of the delayed transfer of asset balances to the RAF. This element does not represent a net increase in costs to the Department or the exchequer.

Eurofighter/Typhoon Programme

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Typhoon aircraft will be procured; when they will all have come into service; what their combat role will be; and how this has changed since they were first designed.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom has given an undertaking, as a signatory to a 4-nation memorandum of understanding, to acquire 232 Typhoon aircraft out of a total production of 620. Our commitment to the programme remains unchanged, although—in common with all other elements of the defence programme—Typhoon is kept under constant review. The delivery of aircraft to the Royal Air Force has now begun and will continue through to the middle of the next decade. The aircraft was designed, to be multi-role; this has not changed. When it becomes available for operational deployment in the second half of this decade, it will be configured primarily to conduct air defence missions but will also have a limited ground attack capability. Typhoon's ground attack capability will be augmented through an incremental enhancement programme.

Eurofighter/Typhoon Programme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Typhoon fighter aircraft will be adaptable for use in the Future Aircraft Carriers.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 May 2003, Official Report, column 678W.

Food Supplies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where apples consumed by the armed forces are produced.

Adam Ingram: The source of fresh produce supplied to the armed forces is dictated by growing seasons and varies during the year. At the present time apples are sourced from the United Kingdom, United States and Chile.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether under the proposed Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft PFI (a) the contractor and (b) his Department will be responsible for war damage.

Adam Ingram: Under the terms of a PFI contract, liability for damage, including war damage, to the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft assets would be covered either through commercial insurance arranged by the contractor or by means of an indemnity provided to the contractor by the Ministry of Defence, depending on the circumstances involved. The detailed arrangements will be subject to final negotiation with industry.

FV430 Armoured Vehicles

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many FV430 series armoured vehicles are operational with the Army; and what the (a) oldest and (b) youngest FV430 vehicle in service is.

Adam Ingram: The FV430 fleet consists of 1,720 vehicles, some 1,400 of which are currently active within Army Units. Other vehicles are held either in Depot, undergoing Base Overhaul, or are employed with trials Units or Contractors. The fleet is planned to reduce to a total of 1,490 by mid-2004.
	Of the vehicles remaining in service, the oldest entered service on 1 May 1965 and the youngest on 1 February 1975.

Gulf War

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the accuracy was of bombs dropped in the Gulf War.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the UK is making towards the re-establishment of the Iraqi armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 July 2003, Official Report, columns 448–49W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Baillieston (Mr. Wray).

Iraq

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether additional troops will be sent to Iraq for peacekeeping operations.

Adam Ingram: We are currently engaged in a process of roulement of forces which is due to be complete by 1 August. In addition, we anticipate the arrival of around 5,500 military personnel from a number of other nations.
	The United Kingdom military will continue to maintain an appropriate presence in the Gulf region for as long as necessary, and will remain a key player in multinational stabilisation operations in Iraq. Our aim remains to leave an Iraq that is confident, secure and fully integrated with the international community.

Less-than-lethal Weapons

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) political control provisions and (b) ethical guidelines are in place for public sector bodies and their subcontractors who are testing and evaluating less-than-lethal weapons.

Adam Ingram: All weapons procured by the Ministry of Defence are subject to legal review in accordance with Article 36 of the 1977 First Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and all new weapons and means and methods of warfare are reviewed to confirm their acceptability relative to the United Kingdom's obligations under the law of armed conflict. There are no exemptions for legal review for non-lethal or less-lethal weapons.
	The main ethical consideration in evaluating such weapons derives from the potential effects on personnel taking part in testing. All evaluations involving human volunteers are subject to ethical constraints, specified in the Guidelines of the Royal College of Physicians. All MOD trials need to be approved by a MOD ethics committee following these guidelines. Trials involving sub-contractors are approved by a committee formed by that sub-contractor.

Medical Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the number of bombs dropped on Iraq by British forces during the recent conflict which hit their intended target; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Multi-role Armoured Vehicle

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the MRAV programme; and what variants of the type he intends to procure.

Adam Ingram: We are reviewing the mix of armoured vehicles in the light of emerging expeditionary doctrine and the need for lighter, more deployable forces; the MRAV programme is being considered as part of this study. The review is nearing completion and we hope to make an announcement shortly.

Nimrod

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the proposed job losses due to the halting of the production phase of the Nimrod and the impact on the retention of skills, experience and product knowledge; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will convene a meeting with BAe Systems, the trade unions, and the MoD procurement arm on the proposed job losses that are to occur in June due to the decision to halt the production phase of the Nimrod; if he will urge BAe Systems to defer the redundancies while talks take place; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 13 June 2003, Official Report, column 1113W,

Nuclear Deterrence

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of nuclear deterrence policy, with special reference to Rolls Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd.'s decommissioning from 2013.

Ivor Caplin: Our policy on nuclear deterrence was set out in the Strategic Defence Review. Its implementation takes account of relevant industrial issues.

Parliamentary Questions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the question 119684 ;and if he will state the reasons for the delay.

Ivor Caplin: I hope to be in a position to write to my hon. Friend before the summer recess. The delay in responding has been caused by the need to conduct a trawl of the Department's archives in order to locate papers.

Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 878W, on procurement, which ships are to be fitted with the ordered ship systems; what plans he has for those which are not; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 878W, concerning planned numbers of Hunt and Sandown class vessels and the procurement of 19 ship systems to improve minehunting and minesweeping capability.
	The current plans are that the purchased systems will be fitted to all Hunt and Sandown class Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs). There is no requirement to fit the ship systems to the three former Hunt class vessels now configured for use solely as patrol craft, forming the Northern Ireland Squadron (HMS Brecon, HMS Cottismore and HMS Dulverton). There are currently no plans for changes to this Squadron.

Radioactive Materials

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of radioactive material he has held in each year from 1997, broken down by (a) high level, (b) intermediate level and (c) low level material.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 4 July 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 46W.

RAF Fairford

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the lease arrangements between the British and US Governments over the use of RAF Fairford.

Adam Ingram: There are no such lease arrangements. The presence of the United States Visiting Forces at RAF Fairford is, as with all bases made available to them in the United Kingdom, governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, and other additional confidential arrangements.

RAF Halton

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to apply to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a licence to develop the Princess Mary hospital building, RAF Halton.

Ivor Caplin: A bat survey report, by WSP Environmental (licensed bat ecologists), will provide a comprehensive mitigation strategy to ensure the protection of bats at the Princess Mary hospital site. This information is expected to be made available to Aylesbury Vale district council and English Nature in August 2003. A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs licence, will be applied for where appropriate.

RAF Lyneham

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the maintenance budget for RAF Lyneham was in each year since 1993; and by how much that differed from the spending bid received for the base;
	(2)  when the C130J fleet will be moved from RAF Lyneham to Brize Norton; at what date each of the C130K fleet will be decommissioned; how many C130K Hercules will be in service in 2011; and at what stage during the run-down of the C130K fleet RAF Lyneham will cease to be a viable unit.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Resettlement Training Centre (Aldershot)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of running the Resettlement Training Centre at Aldershot in 2002–03; what the value was of the contract awarded to (a) Couts and (b) Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in that year; and what percentage of training courses are provided by (a) CTP and (b) preferred suppliers.

Ivor Caplin: The cost of running the Resettlement Training Centre (RTC) at Aldershot in 2002–03 was in the order of £233,000, which includes utility, accommodation, property management and Government Owned, Contractors Operated costs. Payments made to Right Management Consultants to run contracted courses at the RTC are not included.
	The Contract for the Tri-Service provision of an Armed Forces Resettlement Service though originally placed with the Courts Consulting Group plc in July 1998 was novated to Right Management Consultants Ltd. in September 2002.
	I am withholding the value of the contract in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management Consultants. No other contract for resettlement services has been placed.
	Information on the percentage of training courses provided internally by the CTP at the RTC and by Preferred Suppliers is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. During 2002–03 however, the RTC ran 203 courses and 2,156 places were taken up by Services leavers. 4,691 Service leavers are known to have attended courses run by preferred suppliers. These figures exclude courses attended by Service leavers run by non-preferred suppliers, for which no records are held centrally.

Royal Anglian Regiment

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 535W, on regiment vacancies, if he will reinstate the Third Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Ivor Caplin: The Strategic Defence Review, and the New Chapter that we published last year, remain the foundation for the shape, size and capabilities of our Armed Forces. There are, therefore, no plans to reinstate the Third Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. The Government intend to publish a Defence White Paper in the autumn which will provide an updated statement of defence policy and explain our plans for the delivery of enhanced defence capability.

Royal Navy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Naval vessels have been brought into service since 2000; how many of them have engaged in active deployments; and what capability they brought to the operation.

Adam Ingram: The following vessels have been brought into service with the Royal Navy since 2000:
	HMS Albion;
	HMS Portland;
	HMS St. Albans;
	HMS Kent;
	HMS Shoreham;
	HMS Ramsey;
	HMS Blyth and
	HMS Tyne.
	'Active deployment' has been taken to mean deployment away from the UK on standing military tasks or operations.
	Units of the Royal Navy have been on patrol in the Gulf since October 1980, after the Iran/Iraq conflict of that year. The Royal Navy permanent contribution consists of an escort supported by a tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, within the operational area (which includes the Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Northern Arabian Sea) at all times. HMS Portland and HMS Kent have both undertaken that deployment.
	HMS Shoreham, HMS Ramsey and HMS Blyth carried out mine clearance activities as part of Operation Telic.
	For completeness, Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet tankers, RFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler have also entered service since 2000. To date neither have undertaken an operational deployment.
	RN assets bring a range of capabilities which, while allowing them to fulfil specific tasks are inherently flexible. While on deployment on specific tasks RN assets also undertake a range of additional activities, including Defence diplomacy tasks.

Royal Navy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the role of the Royal Navy since 2000 and how it has changed since 1997 and (b) the progress made in achieving the aims of the Strategic Defence Review.

Adam Ingram: Since 2000 the Royal Navy has continued to perform the role recognised in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review by contributing to the security of the United Kingdom, her overseas territories and citizens world-wide; by helping to maintain international peace and security and supporting the Government's foreign policy aims and UK overseas trade; and by assisting the UK in discharging her international responsibilities as a leading member of the UN, the Commonwealth, NATO, and EU.
	This requires a powerful and well-balanced maritime force, capable of rapid deployment and sustained joint and/or combined operations of an expeditionary nature wherever the UK's national and international interests demand. Since the SDR, the emphasis is moving from large-scale open-ocean warfare to expeditionary power projection operations in conjunction with the other two services, with a premium placed on versatility and deployability.
	Significant progress is being made in the Royal Navy to achieve the aims of the SDR. This includes the ongoing programme to replace the Invincible class aircraft carriers with two larger, more capable vessels. In addition, support to amphibious forces has been strengthened by the delivery of six RoRo vessels, and by the introduction into service over the next three years of the two landing platforms dock (replacement) ships, and four landing ships dock (auxiliary)—the latter offering greatly improved capability and lift capacity. The type 45 destroyers will begin to replace the capability currently provided by the type 42 class from late 2007 onwards and, with the principal anti-air missile system (PAAMS), will provide an enhanced specialist anti-air warfare capability. The first three new astute class nuclear powered submarines are on order and will succeed the Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes to provide a greatly enhanced capability to the Royal Navy.

Service Accommodation (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the timetable to upgrade dwellings at Colchester Garrison is on schedule; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Housing Executive is pressing ahead with its programme of projects for upgrade and refurbishment of Service Family Accommodation as quickly as its funding allows, and in line with the priorities laid down by the armed forces to meet their strategic requirements for accommodation and location of forces. Upgrade projects for Colchester were completed in 2000 and 2001, two more are due to start in 2004–05, and a further four will commence as soon as they can be funded.

Service Accommodation (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the remaining stock of dwellings at Colchester Garrison is sufficient to meet the housing demand for military personnel;
	(2)  what plans he has to provide additional dwellings at Colchester Garrison for the families of military personnel.

Ivor Caplin: On the basis of known unit movements and occupancy trends there is more than sufficient housing stock in the Colchester Garrison area to meet future housing demand. There are no plans at present to provide additional housing.

Staff Costs

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

Ivor Caplin: Whilst it is possible to provide the overall civilian manpower numbers and associated costs for the Department for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02, as this information is included in the Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts, the figures for 2002–03 will not be available until the autumn of this year. In addition, the cost figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99, i.e. prior to the introduction of Resource Accounting, are not available. The Appropriation Accounts published at the time did not break expenditure down to this level. Those figures available are included at Table 1.
	The staff numbers for non-departmental public bodies and defence agencies are attached at Tables 2 and 3 respectively. However, the associated costs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Table 1
	
		Civilians employed in Ministry of Defence
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Number 109,206(4) 104,163(5) 104,879 100,398 94,399 Not yet available 
			 Cost (£000) — — 2,415,838 2,324,517 2,441,977 Not yet available 
		
	
	(4) Number of full time equivalent civilians employed as at 1 April 1997.
	(5) Number of full time equivalent civilians employed as at 1 April 1998.
	Note:
	Includes the figures in table 3.
	Table 2
	
		Staff Employed by MOD non-departmental public bodies 1997–2002 (figures for 2002–03 not yet available)
		
			 Body 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Fleet Air museum 48(plus 15 temp staff) 61 65 65 65 
			 National Army museum 82 84.5 92 85 85 
			 Oil and Pipelines agency 17 17 17 17 21 
			 Royal Air Force museum 122(includes 9 temp staff) 136 136 145 132 
			 Royal Marines museum 21 20.5 20.5 20 21 
			 Royal Naval museum 34 36.5 40.5 41 40 
			 Royal Navy Submarine museum 20 20 18 14 18 
		
	
	Note:
	Information relating to MOD non-departmental public bodies is included in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of these reports can be found at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agencies-publicbodies/publicbodies. Only Executive NDPBs employ staff. While the Cabinet Office publication gives total gross expenditure for each NDPB it does not break this figure down between staff costs and running costs, the expenditure figures have not therefore been included in the table.
	Table 3
	
		Ministry of Defence agency manpower 1997–2000 (figures for 2002–03 not yet available
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Armed forces personnel administration agency 850 110 100 120 120 230 
			 Army base repair organisation 2,950 2,730 2,490 2,500 2,600 2,020 
			 Army personnel centre 1,270 1,060 1,120 1,190 1,240 750 
			 Army training and recruitment agency 4,410 4,490 4,250 4,310 4,310 4,250 
			 British forces post office — — — — 350 340 
			 Defence analytical services agency 120 120 100 120 130 150 
			 Defence aviation repair agency — — 3,500 4,770 4,420 4,340 
			 Defence bills agency 650 680 640 600 590 580 
			 Defence communications service agency — 120 650 1,440 3,000 3,050 
			 Defence dental agency 110 140 150 170 — 160 
			 Defence estates 1,170 1,110 1,190 1,210 1,330 1,360 
			 Defence science and technology laboratories — — — — — 2,830 
			 Defence geographical and imagery intelligence agency — — — 840 750 690 
			 Defence housing executive — — 980 950 970 940 
			 Defence intelligence and security centre 100 140 140 140 130 140 
			 Defence medical training organisation — — 160 160 170 170 
			 Defence procurement agency — — 4,940 3,930 3,760 3,730 
			 Defence secondary care agency 590 690 770 720 710 590 
			 Defence storage and distribution agency — — 3,070 3,260 3,040 2,750 
			 Defence transport and movements agency 140 150 170 210 310 310 
			 Defence vetting agency 50 340 340 360 340 260 
			 Disposal sales agency 60 60 60 80 80 80 
			 Duke of Yorks royal military school 100 100 100 100 100 110 
			 Medical supply agency 220 230 240 250 — — 
			 Meteorological office 2,090 2,140 2,000 2,240 2,090 2,090 
			 Ministry of defence police 3,730 3,590 3,510 3,450 3,330 3,260 
			 Naval manning agency 90 100 90 100 110 110 
			 Naval bases and supplies agency 9,170 7,820 7,790 7,620 5,840 — 
			 Naval recruiting and training agency 1,580 1500 1,190 1,190 1,080 1,000 
			 Pay and personnel agency 900 850 680 630 650 660 
			 Queen Victoria school 70 70 70 70 70 70 
			 RAF personnel management agency 210 220 230 220 240 240 
			 RAF training group defence agency 2,130 2,160 2,090 2,070 2,030 2,050 
			 Service children's education 750 710 720 710 710 730 
			 UK hydrographic office — 750 760 830 840 880 
			 Veteran's agency — — — — 840 880 
			 Warship support agency — — — — 2,430 7,680 
			 Total 33,510 32,180 44,290 46,560 48,710 49,480 
		
	
	Notes:
	Excludes Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and locally engaged personnel.
	Figures for the Defence dental agency not available for 2001, and Medical Supply agency not available for 2001, 2002.
	Source:DASA Civilian

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the (a) type and (b) number of vehicles necessary to transport (i) 360 tonnes of bulk chemical warfare agents, (ii) 3,000 tonnes of provision chemicals, (iii) growth media sufficient to produce 26,000 litres of anthrax spores and (iv) 30,000 special munitions for delivery of chemical and biological agents, as set out in the Prime Minister's statement to the House on Iraq on 24 September 2002.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 30 June 2003
	No such estimate has been made.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Private Office Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs have been of Ministers' private offices in her Department in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 April 2003 to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), Official Report, column 812W.
	The running costs information relating to the Ministers' private offices since 1998 are listed in the table. The information for 1997 is not available. Figures for departmental running costs for 2002–03 will be published later in the year in the Departmental Resource Accounts 2002–03.
	
		
			  Cost (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,840,045.10 
			 2001–02 1,667,182.44 
			 2000–01 1,387,142.33 
			 1999–2000 1,307,106.16 
			 1998–99 1,561,546.86

Telecommunication Masts

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many planning applications have been made to site mobile telecommunications masts on land owned by the Department.

Richard Caborn: There have been no planning applications to site telecommunications masts received by DCMS.

UK Sports Institute

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Department has spent on the UK Sports Institute in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of that funding has been allocated for grassroots sporting activity.

Richard Caborn: The decision to establish the United Kingdom Sports Institute (UKSI) was taken in 1996.
	The UKSI is the name given to a network of centres and a central team of experts that helps the country's top sportsmen and women to win medals in major tournaments like the Olympics and the World Athletics Championships. It provides much needed world class facilities and a higher standard of co-ordinated support services to high performance athletes than the UK has ever had before.
	The Institute is made up of four Home Country Sports Institutes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with a central services team, which is part of UK Sport, based in London. The funding provided to the Home Country Institutes is a matter for the Devolved Administrations.
	Funding by DCMS to support the UKSI is found from both the exchequer and the lottery. UK Sport expends exchequer funding, while Sport England use their Lottery funds. The level of expenditure is for these organisations to determine. Details of their expenditure on the UKSI is shown in the following table:
	
		£
		
			  UK Sport Sport England 
		
		
			 1996–97 210,000 — 
			 1997–98 164,000 — 
			 1998–99 339,000 — 
			 1999–2000 414,000 900,000 
			 2000–01 (6)1,404,000 3,100,000 
			 2001–02 3,046,000 14,700,000 
			 2002–03 3,142,000 39,100,000 
		
	
	(6) For this financial year only, UK Sport spent Lottery funding on the UKSI.
	While the primary focus and purpose of the UKSI is to assist our top sportsmen and women, all the facilities in the network can also be enjoyed by the local community, when not being used for elite training.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Consultation Documents

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation.

Paul Murphy: This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Cultural Diversity Branch

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) programmes and (b) projects have been supported by the Cultural Diversity Branch in each year since it was set up.

Angela Smith: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in pursuing its vision of "a confident, creative, informed and prosperous society" is committed both to promoting a greater respect and understanding of the richness of our cultural and linguistic diversity and to celebrating this diversity. In progressing this objective the Department supported Diversity 21 as a means of examining cultural diversity with a view to promoting deeper understanding and to represent this diversity as a sign of strength in our society. Diversity 21 provided the means of promoting cultural diversity work already happening; identifying and delivery of new projects aimed at stimulating the imagination and exploring diversity in an open, creative and accessible way; and providing a cultural diversity grant funding scheme. Since April 2001 the Department has supported a schedule of exhibitions on language, faith and history in Northern Ireland and the wider Commonwealth, to a number of organisations and community groups throughout the Province; a programme of workshops on the different drums of Northern Ireland; and Intercom 21—a contemporary music project which used music as a means of exploring diversity. In addition the Department under the Diversity 21 funding programme supported a range of community based projects. These included:
	
		Cultural Diversity Grants 2001–02 -- £
		
			 Group Project Total Funding 
		
		
			 Apprentice Boys of Derry Maiden City Festival 2001 50,000 
			 Football in the Community Football course with underachievers 35,000 
			 Young at Art Family friendly day 5,000 
			 East Tyrone Marshalling training 5,000 
			 Tinderbox No place like home 38,162 
			 Cineversity Cinema and the city 6,000 
			 The Gathering Literary festival 13,000 
			 Lisburn Development Organisation Chinese New Year festival 9,000 
			 Down Community Arts Neighbours 830 
			 Queen's Film Theatre 'Crossing barriers through the moving image' 3,820 
			 Old Museum Arts 'I'm not a racist but . . ' 5,000 
		
	
	
		Cultural Diversity Grants 2002–03 -- £
		
			 Group Project Total Funding 
		
		
			 Armagh City and District Council Music of the world 7,350 
			 BDS Community Association Ballynahinch youth together 19,300 
			 Best Cellars Music Collective East meets west 2,910 
			 Oi-Kwan Womens Group Chinese cultural awareness weeks 1,500 
			 Replay Productions The Millies 13,347 
			 Spamount and District Cross Community Spamount community festival 1,500 
			 Travellers Movement Anti-discrimination and cultural awareness 934 
			 The Cathedral Quarter Arts Cathedral Quarter Arts festival 4,500 
			 The Nerve Centre Diversity in the digital age 9,000 
			 Apprentice Boys Maiden City festival 2002 50,000 
			 Football in the Community Football course with underachievers 4,300 
			 Tinderbox Caught red handed 37,702 
			 Young at Art Musical garden and festival 20,020 
			 Ballynafeigh Community Development Association Peace boat project 6,107

Housing Construction (Belfast)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when work will start on construction of housing on the site of the former Somerdale School in Belfast.

John Spellar: In response to community representations that the scheme would infringe their human rights, the PSNI, which has a responsibility to advise on new proposals such as this, undertook to review its original advice that the scheme could proceed. That undertaking was given at a public meeting on 4 June 2003 and the PSNI report is still awaited. The scheme is therefore delayed meantime.
	However, subject to a positive response from PSNI, my Department and the Housing Executive, which is taking the lead in trying to resolve the community issues at local level, are firmly committed to seeing this much needed scheme start on site at the earliest possible date. We have given commitments to local residents that they will be fully consulted beforehand.
	Provided the outstanding difficulties are resolved, it is hoped that the scheme can start in 2004–05.

MOT Tests

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 98W, on MOT tests, what proportion of vehicle test failures were due to brake defects in each year since 2000–01.

Angela Smith: This information is not currently available.
	Until recently the records of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency of the Department of the Environment were largely manual and it was not practicable to collate information on the causes of test failures.
	However, when the programme to re-equip the Agency's test centres with new computerised test equipment is completed, it will be possible to develop management information systems which will provide analyses of test results. The re-equipment programme is scheduled to be completed in September 2003.
	There is anecdotal evidence that customers and the motor trade are having difficulty in preparing vehicles for the brake imbalance test. It should be borne in mind, however, that the extent of the imbalance in braking efficiency between two wheels on the same axle that would cause the test to be failed would render the vehicle unroadworthy and constitute a road safety risk.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contractors had money withheld by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each year since 1997 because of poor or sub-standard work.

John Spellar: Because of the considerable number of contracts let annually by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the information for each year dating back to 1997 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, all contractors have money withheld, pending the making good of defects. In any given year, this amounts to an average of £1.2 million.
	The Housing Executive is currently withholding some £1.3 million, pending the satisfactory completion of 221 contracts. The gross value of these contracts is around £89 million. The Housing Executive is also currently involved in six legal disputes, to a gross value of some £480,000, with contractors who have disputed, among other things, that their work is substandard.

Presidential Visit

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which agencies and Departments bore the costs associated with President Bush's visit to Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: The costs associated with President Bush's visit to Northern Ireland, which included visits by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, were borne by the NIO, PSNI, and the MOD.

River Pollution

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution there were in each river in Northern Ireland in (a) 2002, (b) 2001 and (c) 2000, broken down by (i) industrial, (ii) farming and (iii) sewage incidents.

Angela Smith: In the time available it has not been possible to provide the information to the level requested. However, I have asked the Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment to extract the information in respect of Northern Ireland's major rivers and tributaries and to write to the hon. Member.
	In the meantime the following table details the number of pollution incidents in each of the nine areas used by EHS for water pollution management purposes. The boundaries of these areas are shown in the attached map, which will be placed in the Library.
	
		
			 Areas/year Industry Farming Sewage 
		
		
			 2000
			 1 142 123 111 
			 2 26 61 23 
			 3 59 51 37 
			 4 51 28 46 
			 5 50 33 97 
			 6 41 57 83 
			 7 18 43 19 
			 8 12 32 15 
			 9 53 96 47 
			 Total 452 524 478 
			 
			 2001
			 1 103 83 89 
			 2 26 47 22 
			 3 29 43 47 
			 4 47 29 51 
			 5 56 42 100 
			 6 28 66 70 
			 7 27 33 23 
			 8 11 46 14 
			 9 36 98 56 
			 Total 363 484 472 
			 
			 2002
			 1 105 125 119 
			 2 34 46 18 
			 3 30 37 27 
			 4 32 20 40 
			 5 35 39 92 
			 6 21 38 48 
			 7 33 24 10 
			 8 12 14 21 
			 9 47 117 54 
			 Total 349 460 429

Road Tax

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles on the roads of Northern Ireland are estimated not to have road tax paid on them; and what assessment he has made of how this figure compares on a pro-rata basis with the other nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

Angela Smith: A UK wide roadside survey on Vehicle Excise Duty evasion in 2002 estimated that there were 76,900 unlicensed vehicles in Northern Ireland, 74,700 in the Private and Light goods tax class (cars and small vans) and 2,200 in the Goods vehicles class. These represent evasion rates respectively of 7.3 per cent. and 8.2 per cent.
	The evasion rates for cars and small vans in traffic in other parts of the UK were:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 East of England 3.1 
			 East Midlands 2.2 
			 Greater London 4.5 
			 North East 2.4 
			 North West 2.8 
			 Scotland 1.6 
			 South East 2.8 
			 South West 2.6 
			 Wales 2.8 
			 West Midlands 2.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 2.4 
			 All Great Britain 2.7 
		
	
	A regional breakdown of Great Britain evasion rates is not available for the Goods vehicle class. The overall figure for Great Britain in the 2002 survey was 2.1 per cent.

School Accommodation

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the physical condition of accommodation of schools in North Belfast.

Jane Kennedy: The Chief Executive of the Belfast Education and Library Board has advised that physical condition surveys of all controlled and maintained schools in the Belfast Board area, including those located in North Belfast, have been completed in the previous four years. These surveys detail the condition of the schools throughout the estate and provide the basis for the Board's annual maintenance programme. Each year the Board carries out re-surveys of 25 per cent. of the schools' estate.
	In addition, under the Department's annual capital allocation process, school authorities are responsible for identifying schools requiring major capital investment. The Department is currently in the process of updating the list of schools that it has accepted as requiring such major works with the aim of publishing the list on its website at the end of July 2003. There are currently six major works schemes underway at schools in the North Belfast area.

Schools (Capital Expenditure)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the level of capital expenditure on schools was in the last two financial years.

Jane Kennedy: Capital expenditure on schools in each of the last two financial years is set out in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2001–02 104.4 
			 2002–03 125.2

South Eastern Education and Library Board

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps (a) to ensure that the South Eastern Education and Library Board carries out a suitable scheme of upgrading and securing the Movilla High School recreation area in Newtownards and (b) to encourage a partnership approach with Ards borough council in developing the site.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board that meetings have taken place between the school, the Board, Ards borough council officials and local representatives about the sports/recreation area at Movilla High School.
	Steps have been taken in the past to improve the fencing of the site in order to deter vandalism, but these have proved ineffective. The Board has, therefore, commissioned a study to examine the feasibility of moving the fencing back from the existing perimeter and, in partnership with the council, to provide some facilities for public use around the perimeter of the area. These proposals will be considered as part of the Board's minor works programme for the next financial year.

Student Support

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to ensure increased levels of financial support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Following the review of student support in Northern Ireland, means-tested bursaries were introduced for higher and further education students from low-income families. From September 2003, I will increase the maxima of these bursaries from £1,500 to £2,000, while also increasing the income threshold from £15,000 to £20,000. I will also increase the threshold used for assessing a contribution to tuition fees from £20,480 to £20,970 from 1 September 2003.

Telecommunication Masts

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telecommunication masts have been erected within Northern Ireland in the last 10 years, broken down by council area; and how many acts of vandalism upon masts have been perpetrated during that period.

Angela Smith: The number of planning approvals granted for telecommunication masts, broken down by council area, is as follows:
	
		
			 District council area Total applications approved 1994–to date 
		
		
			 Antrim 62 
			 Ards 60 
			 Armagh 57 
			 Ballymena 71 
			 Ballymoney 15 
			 Banbridge 31 
			 Belfast 196 
			 Carrickfergus 22 
			 Castlereagh 39 
			 Coleraine 48 
			 Cookstown 28 
			 Craigavon 64 
			 Derry 53 
			 Down 43 
			 Dungannon 80 
			 Fermanagh 106 
			 Larne 37 
			 Limavady 46 
			 Lisburn 71 
			 Magherafelt 27 
			 Moyle 30 
			 Newry and Mourne 53 
			 Newtownabbey 39 
			 North Down 79 
			 Omagh 55 
			 Strabane 26 
			 Total 1,438 
		
	
	Information on the number of approvals for telecommunication masts in 1993 is not available.
	Planning Service does not hold information on the number of telecommunication masts erected following receipt of approval.
	The Police Service of Northern Ireland has advised that it is not possible from the statistics available to identify the number of offences relating to criminal/malicious damage caused to telecommunication masts.
	Under Planning Policy Statement 10—Telecommunications—Planning Service requires service providers to show that site sharing of an existing mast has been investigated and that new mast proposals will only be acceptable to the Department where it is proven it is not possible to share. This is in order to limit the visual intrusion of phone masts across Northern Ireland. The process usually involves placing additional equipment to an existing mast, and, unless de minimus, would require planning permission. As a result of this, it is possible that more than one planning approval could pertain to a single mast.

SCOTLAND

Administrative Costs

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the administrative costs were of the Scotland Office as a percentage of total spending since 1999.

Anne McGuire: The information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Net admin costs (£000) Total SO net resource (£000) Column 1 as a percentage of column 2 
		
		
			 1999–2000(7) 3,743 13,409,565 0.03 
			 2000–01 6,563 14,103,787 0.05 
			 2001–02 6,598 14,996,479 0.04 
			 2002–03 (estimated) 6,807 17,992,739 0.04 
		
	
	(7) 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000: the Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

Advertising

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure on advertising by the Department was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05.

Anne McGuire: The total expenditure by the Scotland Office on advertising in 2001–02 was £186,564, most of which related to electoral registration information. Expenditure for 2002–03 is estimated at £10,390 and for 2003–04 and 2004–05 expenditure is expected to be minimal.

Agency Workers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agency workers have been employed by the Department in each of the last two years; and at what cost to public funds.

Anne McGuire: Details of the number and cost of agency workers employed by the Scotland Office are given in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Number of temporary/agency staff Total spend on temporary/agency staff 
		
		
			 2001–02 19 75,392 
			 2002–03 15 78,539

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what actions her Department is taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether she has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if she will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office, together with the Scottish Executive, has been complying with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 for buildings occupied jointly. In other buildings work will be undertaken to identify whether asbestos is present, to assess any risk and to take appropriate action. The cost of compliance has not yet been assessed.

Departmental Website

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the actions she (a) has taken and (b) is taking to ensure that the websites of her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are accessible to partially sighted and blind people; and if she will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office seeks to comply with the e-Envoy's "Guidelines for UK Government websites" and other UK wide guidelines and technical standards to ensure that its website is accessible to as wide an audience as possible. This includes compliance with the World Wide Web Accessibility Initiative's guidelines.

Dunblane Tragedy

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost was of the Cullen inquiry into the Dunblane tragedy; how long it lasted; and how many days it sat in public.

Anne McGuire: The direct cost of the Cullen inquiry, including staffing, accommodation and legal representation, was £1.05 million. The inquiry opened on 29 May 1996 and its report was published on 16 October 1996. It sat in public for 26 days.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties.

Anne McGuire: No Scotland Office officials serve on EU committees or working parties.

Information Technology

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's (a) total managed expenditure (b) total spending on information technology and (c) spending on information technology as a proportion of its total managed expenditure was in each financial year since 1978–98.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The figures for total departmental expenditure and spending on information technology are as follows:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Total expenditure(8)(£000) 3,836 6,271 6,469 
			 IT expenditure (£000) 89 58 50 
			 IT expenditure (as percentage) 2.32 0.92 0.77 
		
	
	(8) Excluding the grants paid to the Scottish Executive and the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

Market Testing

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office did not undertake any market testing programmes during 2002–03. Departments are no longer required to undertake a programme of market testing. They are, however, required to ensure that high quality public services are delivered on the basis of value for money in line with the better quality services ethos.

Media Training

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for Ministers and officials in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	Since that date the Department has incurred no expenditure on media or voice training for Ministers or officials.

National Minimum Wage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour.

Anne McGuire: In the current financial year, the lowest salary level in the Scotland Office is £10,300, which equates to an hourly rate of £4.71. The effect of a minimum wage of £4.50 would therefore be nil.

Official Spelling

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make it her policy that official (a) correspondence, (b) reports and (c) documentation from her office use the English spelling of words where this differs from the US version.

Anne McGuire: I can confirm it is the Department's policy to use the English spelling of words in preference to the US version and to write all correspondence in plain English. Departmental publications are prepared in line with Guidance on the Work of the Government Information and Communication Service.

Property Portfolio

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by his Department.

Anne McGuire: The estimated value of the Scotland Office's property portfolio is £2.1 million.

Race Relations

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in her Department and non-departmental public bodies on implementing the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000; and if she will publish the results of the monitoring required by the Act.

Anne McGuire: On 30 November 2002, the Scotland Office came together with the Scottish Executive, its agencies and other Government organisations in Scotland to publish a Statement of Intent on how they would comply with the employment duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000). It set out how they will fulfil their duty to monitor by ethnicity, including a Collective Employment Monitoring Scheme. The Scheme will publish the initial results of race equality employment monitoring in November 2003.

Scotland Office

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated (a) administrative costs and (b) budget for the Scotland Office are for 2003–04; and how these have changed following the changes set out in the Prime Minister's statement of 18 June.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2003–04 is £20.344 billion, within which the administration costs of the Scotland Office amount to £6.977 million.
	These figures have not changed since the Prime Minister's statement on 18 June 2003.

Speech Writers

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Scotland Office has spent on external speech writers for the Secretary of State in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: No expenditure on external speech writers was incurred during the last 12 months.

Staff Costs

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service are collected from Departments and Agencies twice yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2002 were published on 27 February 2003.
	A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available on the world wide web at: www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics Copies of these documents are also placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	More detailed information on the Civil Service is published annually in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, was published in June 2002. The next edition, based on April 2002 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2003.
	The Cabinet Office publishes information on non-departmental public bodies in its annual publication, "Public Bodies". The information includes details of the number of staff employed by each NDPB at 31 March each year. "Public Bodies 2002" was published in January 2003. Copies of "Public Bodies" published each year since 1997 are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Details of staff costs are published in the annual Scotland Office Resource Accounts.

CABINET OFFICE

Command Paper Cm 5511

Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will update Box 26 of Cm 5511 to include 2002.

Douglas Alexander: Information on location of permanent civil servants in the English regions will be included in the 'Civil Service Statistics 2002' publication, which also gives other figures on staffing in the civil service. This will be available shortly, published in the usual way.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties.

Douglas Alexander: There is no fixed number of Cabinet Office officials attending EU Committees, Working Parties and Working Groups, as their membership is flexible. Policy officials attend as appropriate to ensure that the UK is always represented in those groups covering UK interests.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was sufficient and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority.

Harriet Harman: The Law Officers do not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers and therefore have not voted on behalf of the United Kingdom since May 1997 because the Law Officers do not have the policy lead on any matters debated there.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department 
	(1)  abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting;
	(2)  has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if she will list the legislation by year;
	(3)  indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Harriet Harman: The Law Officers do not attend meetings of the Council of Ministers as the Law Officers do not have the policy lead on any matters debated there. Therefore, the Law Officers have not been involved in any vote in the Council of Ministers since May 1997.

Departmental Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost was to her Department for (a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 4 July 2003
	Crown Prosecution Service
	The cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of train travel and airline tickets in each year since 1997 was as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  Train travel Airline tickets 
		
		
			 1997–98 483 29 
			 1998–99 583 25 
			 1999–2000 770 39 
			 2000–01 742 77 
			 2001–02 1,153 151 
			 2002–03 1,517 166 
		
	
	The Crown Prosecution Service does not separately record expenditure on taxis which could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The costs of taxis are, however, included with other miscellaneous travel expenditure and the aggregate cost of such expenditure is given as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 68 
			 1998–99 70 
			 1999–2000 72 
			 2000–01 90 
			 2001–02 148 
			 2002–03 189 
		
	
	Serious Fraud Office
	The Serious Fraud Office has not incurred any expenditure providing transport for Ministers and has not used Ministerial cars, helicopters or chartered planes.
	Expenditure on the other items is detailed below for each financial year since 1997:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (9)2002 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (b) Taxis 19,903 9,466 10,945 15,537 20,920 17,655 
			 (c) Trains 50,961 46,681 62,089 74,168 100,051 99,402 
			 (e) Airline tickets 68,692 37,062 83,625 152,990 139,904 86,713 
		
	
	(9) provisional
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Directorate
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate does not keep separate accounts in these areas and costs are included in the figures provided by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Treasury Solicitor's Department—Crown Prosecution Service as a part of their overall accounts for 1997 to 2001 and Treasury Solicitor's Department from 2002 onwards.
	Treasury Solicitor's Department
	The accounting system operated by the Treasury Solicitor's Department does not hold the information at the detailed level requested.
	The Department allocates its travel costs between costs incurred in the United Kingdom and abroad, and separately records the cost of Ministerial cars. So far as the Department's records show, the Department has not made use of helicopters or chartered planes since 1997.
	The Department's transport costs for each year since 1997 were:
	
		
			 Year ending31 March (a) Ministerial cars and drivers Transport in the United Kingdom Foreign travel 
		
		
			 1997 123,600 8,000 5,800 
			 1998 234,600 18,500 21,400 
			 1999 118,500 47,200 29,200 
			 2000 70,000 55,000 15,000 
			 2001 59,300 61,800 26,000 
			 2002 109,800 154,800 28,200 
			 2003 122,500 134,700 62,300 
		
	
	The budget for my own department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, is administered by the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the figures given by the Treasury-Solicitor's Department include costs incurred by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers.

Guantanamo Bay (UK Detainees)

William Cash: To ask the Solicitor-General what role the Attorney-General has in ensuring that the UK nationals detained in Guantanamo Bay receive a fair trial; and if he will exercise extradition rights in relation to the UK nationals held at Guantanamo Bay.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General has been involved in discussions within Government about the position of UK nationals detained in Guantanamo Bay. He has also raised the matter with those responsible in the United States Administration, to express the Government's profound concern that if the UK detainees are to be tried they should have a fair trial with all proper safeguards, and to make plain the Government's opposition to the imposition of the death penalty.
	Requests for the extradition of persons from other jurisdictions are made under the Crown prerogative, where a person stands accused or convicted of an extradition crime, and it would be in the public interest to do so. It is not the practice or policy of the Government to comment on whether an extradition request may be made in any individual case.

Mobile Phones

Howard Flight: To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost was to her Department of mobile phones supplied to Ministers and officials in each of the years since 1997, broken down by (a) price of apparatus and (b) cost of usage.

Harriet Harman: The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers does not keep separate figures for the cost of apparatus from that of usage. Costs since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			 Year ending 31 March  
		
		
			 1997 1,724 
			 1998 2,270 
			 1999 2,739 
			 2000 2,454 
			 2001 2,223 
			 2002 3,295 
			 2003 4,405 
		
	
	The Crown Prosecution Service cannot provide a separate breakdown of costs for purchasing contract mobile phones. The cost is included in the overall contract charge. The CPS also uses a few "Pay As You Go" mobile phones. These, together with the associated costs, are paid for individually by CPS Areas. In respect of the cost of usage, information is only available from October 1998 when the CPS established a national contract for telephony services. The overall contract charge for mobile phones is:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998 (from October) 11.95 
			 1999 5,445.72 
			 2000 28,621.79 
			 2001 77,356.20 
			 2002 138,086.75 
			 2003 (to end June) 76,881.38 
		
	
	The cost to the Serious Fraud Office for providing mobile phones to officials does not include the costs of personal calls. The full cost per year since 1997, is detailed.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (10)2002 
		
		
			 Network and call charges 11,554 4,205 5,680 5,981 6,437 7,536 
			 Purchases 316 274 970 1,261 1,587 823 
			 Total cost 11,87 0 4,479 6,650 7,242 8,024 8,359 
		
	
	(10) provisional
	As part of the Protocol between HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and Crown Prosecution Service, it was agreed the Crown Prosecution Service would pay for all mobile phones supplied to inspectors. Costs since 2000 are broken down as follows:
	a total of 11 mobile phones within HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	monthly rental of £11.14 each (overall annual cost £1,470.48)
	an approximate cost of calls per annum is £750.00. This works out to an average cost of £5.68 per phone, per month.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department has not purchased any apparatus. Since 1997, the annual cost of mobile telephone usage, including equipment rental, for the Department for the years ending 31 March was:
	
		
			 Year ending 31 March Total 
		
		
			 1997 4,766 
			 1998 4,809 
			 1999 6,182 
			 2000 8,981 
			 2001 10,122 
			 2002 7,869 
			 2003 12,735

Performance Targets

Gregory Barker: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the performance targets that (a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if she will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 24 June 2003
	Key performance targets are agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06 (Cm 5571). Targets are monitored with HM Treasury and progress is reported regularly. Crown Prosecution Service
	The Crown Prosecution Service, along with other criminal justice agencies, is subject to a Public Service Agreement for which the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General are jointly responsible. The Public Service Agreement prescribes three targets for the criminal justice system: to narrow the justice gap by bringing more offences to justice and reducing ineffective trials; to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system; and to increase value for money. These are overarching targets applying to the police, the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service. Day to day delivery is the responsibility of all of these agencies, working together in partnership through Local Criminal Justice Boards established across each of the 42 operational areas of the criminal justice system.
	Underlying these targets are a number of measures specific to the Crown Prosecution Service, which demonstrate the contribution of the service to the criminal justice system as a whole and govern the performance of its 42 areas. The targets for 2003–06 are as follows:
	Narrowing the justice gap
	To reduce by 5 per cent. in 2003–04 the proportion of unsuccessful outcomes in defendant cases in both the magistrates courts and the Crown court. Further targets are to be agreed for 2004–06;
	To increase the number of recorded offences brought to justice for which the offender was a persistent offender at the point of charge;
	To reduce by 27 per cent. the proportion of ineffective trials in the magistrates courts and in the Crown court; and
	To introduce an agreed shadow charging scheme in partnership with the police in all areas between March 2003 and December 2003.
	Improving Public Confidence
	To ensure, year on year, that at least 95 per cent. of initial and continuing review decisions comply with the Code for Crown Prosecutors;
	To increase by five percentage points current CPS compliance with its primary and secondary disclosure responsibilities;
	To maintain year on year the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders at or below seventy one days; and
	To increase year on year the number of areas that have regular engagement with groups that support victims of domestic violence and with minority ethnic communities.
	Value for money
	Specific measures in support of this target are under development.
	Other measures
	In addition, the service has a number of targets which are not directly related to the Public Service Agreement, as follows:
	The Crown Prosecution Service is committed, along with its criminal justice partners, to delivery of agreed timeliness targets from charge or laying of information to completion for a range of cases in both the magistrates courts and the Crown court;
	Subject to the successful rollout of the Compass case tracking system, all Crown Prosecution Service areas to input data providing the capacity to report on the progress and outcome of cases involving allegations of domestic violence, racially and religiously motivated offences, homophobic crime, rape and child abuse;
	To reply to 95 per cent. of complaints within 10 days of receipt and to 95 per cent. of inquiries from Members of Parliament within 15 days; and
	Additional measures are under development related to the timeliness and quality of direct communication with victims.
	Targets are determined by the Crown Prosecution Service Board, which comprises the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief Executive, Chief Crown Prosecutors representing the 42 areas, Headquarters Directors and non-executive Directors.
	Performance is reported on a quarterly basis to the newly created Business Development Directorate, which has responsibility for monitoring progress towards targets both at local and national level, and for raising with the 42 areas both matters of concern and aspects of good practice which emerge from the resulting record of delivery.
	Serious Fraud Office
	The Serious Fraud Office does not have any agencies or non-departmental bodies. Current performance targets are as follows:
	a caseload of 110 active cases (including appeals) within allocated resources;
	a long-run average investigation time of 16.5 months;
	a long-run average prosecution stage length of 14.5 months.
	Performance targets are agreed by Ministers and officials, and subject to monitoring by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Ministers and officials.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has clear objectives set out in its Strategic and Business Plan 2003–06 which is available on their website at www.hmcpsi.gov.uk. The objectives of HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate support the Government's overarching objectives for the criminal justice system and the linked Public Service targets.
	However, no separate performance targets have been developed for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
	The Plan is approved by the Attorney-General and progress is monitored by the Attorney-General's Advisory Board.
	Treasury Solicitor's Department
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department is required to meet the following performance targets:
	(a) to introduce a professionally informed client survey methodology for all the Agency's legal work by September 2003;
	(b) to meet client satisfaction levels as measured by survey results of:
	at least 95 per cent. for Advisory Divisions
	at least 90 per cent. for Litigation Division and ECCG;
	(c) to recover from clients the full operating costs for chargeable services;
	(d) to maintain corporate staff overheads costs at no more than 15 per cent. of total staff costs;
	(e) to reduce sick absence per staff year by 30 per cent. by 2003–04 (base year 1998–99);
	(f) to achieve a level of ill-health retirements by 2005 consistent with or better than the best quartile target of 3.72 retirements per 1,000 employees;
	(g) to pay all undisputed invoices in accordance with terms or within 30 days.
	Targets (a) to (d) were agreed between the Department, the Attorney-General and HM Treasury as part of the Department's Spending Review 2002 settlement. Targets (e) to (g) were set centrally by Ministers for all Government Departments.
	Achievement against all targets is monitored by the Department's Board and the Attorney-General; and reported to Parliament and the Public in the Law Officer's spring Departmental Report and the Treasury Solicitor's Department's Annual Report.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been issued since their introduction.

Hazel Blears: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The provisional number of notifications received by the Home Office of ASBOs granted within England and Wales, up to 31 March 2003 (latest available), is 1,096.
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under-reported in returns made by magistrates courts. A recent reconciliation exercise with the police identified a further 125 ASBOs, for the period 1 October 2001 to 31 December 2002, which had not been reported by the courts. The figure quoted above includes these orders.

Asylum Seekers

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department has taken to widen the NIA grants available to destitute asylum seekers in order to ease removal procedures.

Beverley Hughes: The Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP) is available to all nationalities throughout the asylum process including those who have received a negative decision on their asylum claim and are awaiting appeal. It is also open to those who have been granted time limited leave to enter or remain.
	VARRP aims to secure the dignified, safe and sustainable return of those who wish to leave the United Kingdom voluntarily. The International Organization for Migration, which runs this programme on behalf of the Home Office, will assist the returnee prior to departure with counselling and independent advice. They will also help with travel arrangements, tickets etc.
	On arrival to the returnees' country of origin they will receive reintegration assistance worth approximately £500 (not cash). This assistance includes help with initial housing and access to employment, training, education and health facilities.

Asylum Seekers

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reinstate embarkation controls at UK borders in order to facilitate the assessment of members of failed asylum seekers who remain in the country.

Beverley Hughes: We are keeping the option for embarkation controls under review, taking into account cost, the move towards capturing details of arriving and embarking passengers electronically and our current capability to conduct random, short-term embarkation controls if necessary. Targeted embarkation exercises have already been undertaken and, subject to operational priorities, we plan to undertake further special exercises to help estimate the number of failed asylum seekers leaving the United Kingdom voluntarily.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what enquiries he has made of local estate agents at Lee-on-the-Solent concerning the impact on house prices of the announcement that the Daedalus site was being considered as a possible location for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: None.

Asylum Seekers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the impact of the implementation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 on his policy of dispersing asylum seekers throughout the UK; how many asylum seekers have been dispersed since section 55 was implemented; when he will publish his revised guidelines on the implementation of section 55; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The impact of section 55 on the dispersal of asylum seekers throughout the United Kingdom has been monitored since its implementation on 8 January 2003.
	The number of dispersals per month/quarter is not available. However, the assumption can be made that the majority of cases applying for accommodation support will be dispersed. The number of applications for National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation during the first quarter of 2003 was 7,990 and the corresponding number for the fourth quarter of 2002 was 10,410.
	Information on applications for NASS support is published in the quarterly asylum statistics available from the Library, and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The next publication will be available at the end of August 2003.
	The guidance for NASS caseworkers on section 55 was revised and reissued on 11 April 2003 following the Court of Appeal judgment on 18 March 2003 and is being kept under review.

CCTV

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on CCTV programmes administered by the Government Office for the North West.

Hazel Blears: A potential £170 million will be spent funding 684 CCTV schemes across England and Wales under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative.
	The Government Office for the North West received funding of £22,800,000 for 95 CCTV schemes. All schemes are now operational, apart from the Liverpool Citysafe scheme which is due for completion in late summer 2003. A full list of these schemes is available on the crime reduction website at: http://www. crimereduction.gov.uk/cctvminisite1.htm.
	Funding for a range of crime reduction interventions, including CCTV, is currently available to local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships under the Building Safer Communities fund.

Domestic Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the money being invested in new refuge accommodation over the next three years will be made available in Northern Ireland for those fleeing domestic violence.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The money announced by the Home Secretary for investment in new refuge accommodation over the next three years is to be used to provide units of accommodation in all regions of England. None of this money will be allocated to Northern Ireland.
	However, as indicated in the Northern Ireland Office press release of 19 June 2003, welcoming the Home Office consultation paper, "Safety and Justice: The Government's Proposals on Domestic Violence", a parallel Northern Ireland consultation paper on domestic violence has been commissioned and the issue of refuge accommodation in Northern Ireland will be considered in that context.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties.

Caroline Flint: Membership of EU committees, working parties and working groups is not fixed. The number of officials who attend such meetings on behalf of the Department will therefore vary at any given time, with the most appropriate policy officials attending depending on the subject matter under consideration. On average, however, the Department will not send more than two officials to such meetings.

Firearms

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were killed by a firearm in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton in each of the past 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The number of homicides committed using firearms in England and Wales in the last 10 years are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of firearm homicides(11) 
		
		
			 1992 56 
			 1993 74 
			 1994 66 
			 1995 70 
			 1996 49 
			 1997 59 
			 1997–98 54 
			 1998–99 49 
			 1999–2000 62 
			 2000–01 73 
			 2001–02 97 
		
	
	(11) Figures are on a calendar year basis from 1992 to 1997, and thereafter on a financial year basis (12 months to March).
	Numbers of other firearm deaths are not collected by the Home Office.
	Numbers of firearm offences are not available centrally by local authority area.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Fireworks

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued in each police authority area for offences in connection with fireworks in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Penalty notices for 11 disorder offences, including that of throwing fireworks in the street, are being piloted in four police areas: West Midlands, Essex, North Wales and the Croydon division of the Metropolitan police. In the light of early findings, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 14 May 2003 that the penalty notice for disorder scheme will be rolled out nationally. Detailed data on the numbers of penalty notices issued will be included in the evaluation report on the pilots, which will be published.

Gun Crime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to reduce the incidence of gun crime across the UK.

Caroline Flint: The recent increases in the number of gun crime offences are unacceptable and the Government are therefore taking a wide range of action to reduce this.
	This includes:
	Proposing a mandatory, minimum 5-year sentence for those convicted, on indictment, of possessing prohibited firearms;
	Proposing to ban the carrying of replicas or air weapons in a public place without reasonable excuse;
	Proposing to raise the age limit for owning an air weapon from 14 to 17 and restricting their use without adult supervision as 77 per cent. of airgun crimes are criminal damage;
	Proposing a ban on the sale, manufacture and import of tandem air cartridge systems, and the licensing of those already held as they can be readily converted into lethal firearms;
	Publishing a new strategy for witnesses to increase the numbers of people who come forward when they witness a crime;
	The national firearms amnesty, held during April, in which over 43,000 weapons and 1 million rounds of ammunition were handed in.
	Legislation and law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem and it is vital that community groups, local authorities and those involved in service provision, including education, engage with us in taking action to deal with this problem. Community groups have therefore been involved in the two national meetings my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has chaired and we will maintain this dialogue and support community involvement in tackling gun crime.
	We look forward, among other things, to working with the Disarm Trust which will support the victims of, and communities working against, gun crime. We will be looking to support community groups in other ways.
	The police have established dedicated teams, such as Operation Trident in London and Operation Stealth in Nottingham, working against particular groups of criminals involved in armed violence. Many of these Operations have forged good links with the communities they serve by establishing Independent Advisory Groups, made up of members of the local community.

Knife Attacks

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife attacks were reported in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these attacks were fatal.

Hazel Blears: Details of homicides held centrally relate to England and Wales only and are not collected by local authority area. The number of homicides committed using a sharp instrument, in each of the past 10 years, are given in the table.
	
		Offences currently(12) recorded as homicide involving a sharp instrument(13), England and Wales
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 1992 218 
			 1993 182 
			 1994 231 
			 1995 244 
			 1996 197 
			 1997 200 
			 1997–98 202 
			 1998–99 202 
			 1999–2000 213 
			 2000–01 215 
			 2001–02 265 
		
	
	(12) As at 8 October 2002; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.
	(13) Figures are on a calendar year basis from 1992 to 1997, and thereafter on a financial year basis (12 months to March).
	Numbers of other knife attacks are not collected separately by the Home Office.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Passports

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the number of days on average it takes to (a) process a new passport application by post and (b) renew a passport by post; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: In the week ending 6 July the average processing time for a single straightforward, properly completed application made by post was five days for a new passport and four days for a renewal. It is not possible to state the average time for processing non-straightforward applications as this depends on the time it takes to resolve queries on these applications.

Police

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers per head of population were employed in Cornwall in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: Information for the last 10 years is only available at force level and is provided on the basis of the number of police officers per 100,000 population.
	
		
			 As at 31 March Number of police officers per 100,000 population(14) 
		
		
			 1993 191.4 
			 1994 190.9 
			 1995 187.7 
			 1996 188.1 
			 1997 185.7 
			 1998 192.0 
			 1999 186.1 
			 2000 182.3 
			 2001 186.9 
			 2002 192.4 
		
	
	(14) Population figures are provided by the Office for National Statistics. Comparisons for number of police officers to 100,000 population can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletins, Police Strength for England and Wales, covering each year 1998 to 2002
	By 30 September 2002 Devon and Cornwall police had 3,145 offices, a record number. The latest figure for civilian staff is 1,639 at 31 March 2002.

Policing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he has made to the structure of policing to improve responsiveness in the event of a serious terrorist incident; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: In consultation with the police service and other agencies local, regional and national structures have, and are being, developed and strengthened in the light of the developing terrorist threat. A particularly important example of our strengthening these arrangements is the regional and national co-ordination of Special Branch work.
	Each police force in England and Wales has at least one Counter Terrorism Security Advisor (CTSA), to advise in such matters.

Sefton

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which wards and programmes within Sefton have benefited from (a) CCTV programmes, (b) the target policing initiative and (c) violence against women.

Hazel Blears: The following four CCTV schemes in the Sefton constituency received funding under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative:
	Crosby town centre (£108,6710), South Road, Waterloo (£185,487), Bootle town centre (£132,623) and Southport town centre (£169,525).
	No targeted policing initiative or violence against women projects were funded in Sefton.

WALES

Departmental Running Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the running costs in 2002 were of (a) his Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave him on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 750W.
	The Wales Office Report 2003 was published in May 2003 as Cm 5928 and is available in the Library.

Private Office Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department in each year since 1997.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 750W.
	The most recent Wales Office Departmental Report was published in May 2003 as Cm 5928 and is available in the Library.

Student Finance

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet Secretaries of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss student funding.

Peter Hain: I am in close and regular contact with the Assembly First Minister, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and Cabinet colleagues about the possibility of transferring a range of functions in respect of student funding to the Assembly. The matter is still under active consideration at both ministerial and official level, and it is important to ensure that all the options, costs, implications and risks are fully considered.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Dioceses (Financial Performance)

Paul Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2003, Official Report, column 585W, on the financial performance of dioceses, whether the information received by the Archbishops' Council is published for comparative purposes.

Stuart Bell: The Archbishops' Council from time to time publishes documents containing some comparative data for all dioceses and I am sending the hon. Gentleman copies of two recent publications.

Dioceses' Income

Paul Burstow: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what proportion of each diocese's income is represented by payments made by the Church Commissioners.

Stuart Bell: In 2001, the most recent year for which figures for total Church expenditure are available, the commissioners paid 19 per cent. of the Church's overall running costs. This included full responsibility for meeting the cost of clergy pensions arising from service up to the end of 1997. Such expenditure is paid direct to pensioners, not through dioceses, and we do not keep a record of the proportion of each diocese's total income which comes from the commissioners.
	However, details of how the commissioners' funds are used to support the Church's ministry around the country can be found in the General Synod document which I made available to the hon. Gentleman.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much attendance allowance has been withheld from pensioners in self-funded care homes in Scotland since the introduction of free personal care in Scotland.

Maria Eagle: Since 1 July 2002, 1,793 care home residents in Scotland have lost their entitlement to attendance allowance because their personal care costs are met by their local authority under the "free personal care" arrangements made by the Scottish Executive. The loss of entitlement to attendance allowance in these circumstances follows the normal social security benefit rules to prevent duplicate provision from public funds for the same purpose (following the same principle, receipt of free nursing care, irrespective of the setting in which it is provided, does not affect the payment of attendance allowance). Information is not routinely collected about the precise period covered by the loss of entitlement to payments in individual cases, or about the weekly amount paid before that loss of entitlement, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

British Overseas Territories

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what responsibilities his Department undertakes in connection with British overseas territories.

Chris Pond: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have any direct responsibilities concerning the overseas territories. However, the Department is responsible for managing two EU Structural Fund programmes designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion. Organisations from Gibraltar are eligible to participate in the two programmes.

British Sign Language Initiatives

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the funding for British Sign Language initiatives has been allocated to Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	As language policy was devolved to Northern Ireland's local administration, none of the funding allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions to British Sign Language will be allocated to Northern Ireland.
	My officials in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure are considering options for supporting British and Irish sign languages in Northern Ireland.

Carers Allowance

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people over the state retirement age have (a) applied for and (b) received the full carer's allowance since October 2002;
	(2)  how many people over the state retirement age, living in Devon, have (a) applied for and (b) received the carers' allowance since October 2002.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 8 July 2003
	The information is in the following tables and relates to the period October 2002 to February 2003. The majority of carers over state pension age who qualify for carer's allowance also receive a state pension of an equal or higher amount. In these circumstances, the overlapping benefits rules preclude the payment of carer's allowance. However, people affected in this way can, if they are on a low income, qualify for the carer premium payable with income related benefits.
	
		Number of people over state pension age in Great Britain who have (a) claimed carer's allowance and (b) received the full rate of the allowance
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Claims 25,630 
			 (b) In payment in full 560 
		
	
	
		Number of people over state pension age in Devon who have(a) claimed carer's allowance and (b) received the allowance
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Claims 290 
			 (b) In payment 20 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. The "claims" figures refer to the number of people over state pension age making a claim. Each person may have made more than one claim.
	3. The "in payment in full" figure relates to any over state pension age person in Great Britain receiving the full amount of the allowance at the end of any month from October 2002 to February 2003.
	4. The "in payment" figure relates to any over state pension age person, in Devon receiving payment of the allowance at the end of any month from October 2002 to February 2002.
	5. The figures for Devon exclude Unitary Authorities within the ceremonial boundary.
	6. State Pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men.
	Source:
	100 per cent. data from the Carer's Allowance Computer System (CACS) supplied by Information and Analysis Directorate. Figures are at 28 February 2003

Child Support Agency

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what review and evaluation strategies his Department uses to monitor the work of the Child Support Agency in ensuring that those who refuse to pay maintenance for their children are made to do so.

Chris Pond: The Child Support Agency, as part of the Department for Work and Pensions, is regularly monitored in its progress towards a range of targets including those on collection of maintenance liabilities. The Secretary of State's targets for 2003–04 are published in the Agency's business plan, a copy of which is in the Library.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority.

Chris Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since January 1999, as far as we have been able to verify, the Department has not voted against any legislative proposals at any Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting.

Chris Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is available only at disproportionate cost.
	Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has abstained on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers broken down by legislation and year.

Chris Pond: Information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Chris Pond: The information for the period before 1999 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since January 1999, there have been no occasions where the Department has indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

EU Regulations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations originating from the EU have been implemented by his Department in each of the last five years.

Chris Pond: EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation in national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. The number of Regulations implemented by the Department for Work and Pensions in each of the last five years is as follows:
	2003 (to date): 2
	Council Regulation (EEC) 304/2003 of 28 January 2003 concerning the export and import of certain dangerous chemicals.
	Council Regulation (EC) 859/2003 of 14 May 2003 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those provisions solely on the ground of their nationality.
	2002: 1
	Commission Regulation (EC) 1687/2002 of 25 September 2002 on an additional period for notification of certain active substances already on the market for biocidal use as established in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 1896/2000.
	2001: 1
	Council Regulation (EC) 1386/2001 of 5 June 2001—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72.
	2000: 2
	Council Regulation (EC) 00/1896 of 7 September 2000 on the first phase of the programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on biocidal products.
	Council Regulation (EC) 00/2364 of 25 October 2000 concerning the fourth list of priority substances as foreseen under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93.
	1999: 4
	Council Regulation (EC) 307/1999 of 8 February 1999 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover students.
	Council Regulation (EC) 1399/1999 of 29 April 1999—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC)1408/71 and Regulation(EEC) 574/72.
	Council Regulation 1260/1999 of 21 June laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds.
	Council and European Parliament Regulation 1784/1999 of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund.
	1998: 2
	Council Regulation (EC) 1223/1998 of 4 June 1998—Miscellaneous Amendments to Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and (EEC) 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) 1408/71.
	Council Regulation (EC) 1606/98 of 29 June 1998 extending the provisions of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) 574/72 to cover special schemes for civil servants.

Health and Safety

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the titles of the guidance books produced by the Health and Safety Executive since February 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 1 July 2003
	Since 1 February 2002 66 guidance publications have been produced by HSE. They are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Series Reference Title Publication date 
		
		
			 INDG 347  Basic advice on first aid at work 4 February 2002 
			 INDG 178 (Rev1) Written schemes of examination: Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 5 February 2002 
			 INDG 348  Mark a parcel, save a back 12 February 2002 
			 INDG 268 Rev Working together: Guidance on health and safety for contractors and suppliers 22 February 2002 
			 INDG 335  Is it explosive? Dangers of explosives in metal recycling 26 February 2002 
			 HSG 60  Upper limb disorders in the workplace 28 February 2002 
			 HSG 225  Handling home care: Achieving safe, efficient and positive outcomes for care workers and clients 5 March 2002 
			 HSG 197  Developing and maintaining staff competence: Railway safety principles and guidance Part 3 Section A 19 March 2002 
			 INDG 355  Reduce risks—cut costs: The real costs of accidents and ill health at work 22 April 2002 
			 INDG 354  Safety in electrical testing at work: General guidance 10 May 2002 
			 INDG 355 W Reduce risks—cut costs: The real cost of accidents and ill health at work (Welsh) 10 May 2002 
			 INDG 349  Safe working with vehicle air conditioning systems: Guidance for employers, self-employed people and supervisors 14 May 2002 
			 INDG 308 rev1 The safe use of gas cylinders 30 May 2002 
			 INDG 356  Reducing accidents and ill health in motor vehicle repair 16 June 2002 
			 INDG 357  Contained use of genetically modified organisms: Excluding information from the Public Register 18 June 2002 
			 INDG 359  Waste industry safety and health—reducing the risks 18 June 2002 
			 HSG 229  Work-related violence case studies: managing the risk in smaller businesses 9 July 2002 
			 INDG 229 (rev1) Using work equipment safely 11 July 2002 
			 INDG 350  The idiot's guide to CHIP 3 24 July 2002 
			 INDG 352  Read the label: How to find out if chemicals are dangerous 24 July 2002 
			 INDG 353  Why do I need a safety data sheet? CHIP3 24 July 2002 
			 L 129  Approved supply list (seventh edition) 24 July 2002 
			 L 130  The compilation of safety data sheets (third edition). Approved code of practice 24 July 2002 
			 L 131  Approved classification and labelling guide (fifth edition). Guidance on regulations 24 July 2002 
			 INDG 361  Regulating health and safety in the UK offshore oil and gas fields: Who does what? 29 July 2002 
			 INDG 358  Guidance on the provision of equipment and arrangements for evacuation and escape from trains in an emergency: Guidance for the railway industry 2 August 2002 
			 HSG 228  CHIP for everyone 7 August 2002 
			 INDG 362  Noise at work—advice for employers 10 September 2002 
			 INDG 363  Protect your hearing or lose it! 10 September 2002 
			 HSG 177  Managing health and safety in dockwork 17 September 2002 
			 INDG 368  Use of contractors—a joint responsibility 18 September 2002 
			 INDG 364  The right start work experience for young people: Health and safety basics for employers 19 September 2002 
			 INDG 367  Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope 30 September 2002 
			 L 70  A guide to the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995. Guidance on regulations. Revised 4 October 2002 
			 HSG 231  Working safely with metalworking fluids: Good practice manual 15 October 2002 
			 INDG 365  Working safely with metalworking fluids: A guide for employees 15 October 2002 
			 INDG 300  Workplace Transport—CD ROM—booklet 16 October 2002 
			 INDG 360  Health and safety in audio-visual production: Your legal duties 16 October 2002 
			 INDG 238 (rev2) Gas appliances: Get them checked—keep them safe 22 October 2002 
			 INDG 285 (rev1) A guide to landlords' duties: Gas Safety Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 22 October 2002 
			 HSG 232  Sound solutions for the food and drink industries: Reducing noise in food and drink manufacturing 28 October 2002 
			 HSG 230  Keeping electrical switchgear safe 4 November 2002 
			 INDG 369  Why fall for it? Preventing falls in agriculture 25 November 2002 
			 HSG 227  A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises 6 December 2002 
			 INDG 223 rev3 A short guide to managing asbestos in premises 6 December 2002 
			 L 127  The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance 6 December 2002 
			 L 132  Control of lead at work. Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance 6 December 2002 
			 L 27  Work with asbestos which does not normally require a licence (fourth edition). Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance 6 December 2002 
			 L 28  Work with asbestos insulation, asbestos coating and asbestos insulating board (fourth edition). Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance 6 December 2002 
			 L 5  Control of substances hazardous to health. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance 6 December 2002 
			 HSG 122  New and expectant mothers at work: A guide for employers 9 December 2002 
			 INDG 370  Fire and explosion—How safe is your workplace? A short guide to the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations. 9 December 2002 
			 INDG 371  Health and safety in ski slope operations 13 January 2003 
			 INDG 90 (rev2) Understanding ergonomics at work: Reduce accidents and ill health and increase productivity by fitting the task to the worker 31 January 2003 
			 HSG 90  The law on VDUs: An easy guide: Making sure your office complies with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2002) 28 February 2003 
			 INDG 171 (rev1) Aching arms (or RSI) in small businesses: Is ill health due to upper limb disorders a problem in your workplace? 28 February 2003 
			 L 26  Work with display screen equipment: Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002: Guidance on regulations 28 February 2003 
			 HSG 85  Electricity at work: Safe working practices 20 March 2003 
			 INDG 373  A guide for new and expectant mothers who work 24 March 2003 
			 INDG 372  Electrical switchgear and safety: A concise guide for users 16 April 2003 
			 INDG 136 rev2 COSHH: A brief guide to the regulations. What you need to know about the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) 22 April 2003 
			 INDG 259 rev1 An introduction to health and safety 28 April 2003 
			 L 133  Unloading petrol from road tankers. Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved code of practice and guidance. 6 May 2003 
			 HSG 235  Bulk storage of acids. Guidance on the storage of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid in tanks 12 May 2003 
			 HSG 234  Caring for cleaners. Guidance and case studies on how to prevent musculoskeletal disorders 21 May 2003 
			 INDG 376  Legionnaires' disease: Essential information for providers of residential accommodation 23 May 2003 
			 L 52  Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 including 2001 and 2003 amendments. Guidance on regulations 30 May 2003

Occupational Pensions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effect of amendments agreed in the European Parliament on occupational pensions; and whether these amendments impose (a) obligations and (b) restrictions on the use of tax-free lump sum payments.

Chris Pond: The finely balanced package of amendments to the Directive on Occupational Pensions, agreed in the European Parliament on 12 March 2003, contributed to a Directive that is an important first step towards a single market for occupational retirement provision. At the same time, the Directive acknowledges that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, member states retain full responsibility for the organisation of their pension systems. The amendments will not affect the use of tax-free lump sum payments.

Parliamentary Questions

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the written questions tabled by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West on 16 June 2003, refs: 270, 273 and 274, and on 18 June 2003, ref: 258.

Chris Pond: Answers were given to the hon. Member on 25 June and 4 July 2003.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral answer of 7 July 2003, Official Report, columns 735–36, on pension credit reassessments, what will constitute a significant change in circumstances which will have to be reported to the Pensions Service by a recipient of the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: Significant changes that must be reported to the Pension Service by a pension credit recipient are: marriage or cohabitation; death, divorce or separation of a partner; change of name, address or payment location details; changes to any paid work; going into or coming out of hospital, a care home or prison; going abroad; changes in household composition, changes to certain housing costs, joining a religious order and changes to caring responsibilities.
	Customers whose pension credit entitlement is fixed for five years do not have to report any changes to their occupational or private pensions and annuities or capital.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 22 May 2003 from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan, Home Office ref PO 9133/3.

Chris Mullin: A reply was sent from UKvisas as the department responsible for entry clearance matters on 2 July 2003.

Correspondence

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letters of 19 June 2003 from the hon. Member for Bradford, North regarding M. B. Dhaka, refs: (a) FV331/2003 and (b) K1636.

Chris Mullin: I am sorry that my hon. Friend has not yet received a substantive reply to his letter of 19 June 2003. I will write to him in the next few days about this case.

Burundi

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for an all-inclusive ceasefire in Burundi.

Chris Mullin: We are working closely with the Government of Burundi, countries in the region and international partners to help Burundi complete peacefully the period of transition laid down in the 2000 Arusha Accord.
	The UK is supporting efforts by the regional initiative on Burundi and the African Mission to ensure effective implementation of an all-inclusive ceasefire. Two of the four rebel factions not included in the Arusha Accord have signed and are implementing ceasefire agreements. We continue to call on the FDD (Nkurunziza) to implement the 2 December ceasefire and the FNL (Rwasa) to enter the peace process without delay.

Afghanistan

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the six provinces of Afghanistan for which the UK has responsibility for provincial reconstruction.

Mike O'Brien: There are five provinces that will be covered by the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif. These are Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Samangan and Sar-e-Pol.
	The PRT will not be directly responsible for provincial reconstruction, but will aim to help the Afghan effort to improve the security environment as well as facilitating Security Sector Reform (SSR) and reconstruction efforts.

Botswana

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Botswana on the forced removal of tribal peoples from their homelands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Our high commission in Gaborone discusses issues relating to the Basarwa regularly with the Government of Botswana. The subject was raised during my Noble Friend, Baroness Amos, the then Minister for Africa's visit to Botswana on 1 April.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proposals from the executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on partnerships for global peace and prosperity.

Chris Mullin: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has determined that the central theme of its conference in Bangladesh in October will be "Partnerships for Global Peace and Prosperity". The agenda for the conference includes the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, human rights, free trade, anti-terrorism measures and the needs of small states. These are all issues in which the British Government take an active interest. The Commonwealth accepts that sustained action on all these fronts is vital. The UK will continue to play a significant part in the global effort needed.

Croatia

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the accession of Croatia to the EU.

Denis MacShane: The Government support Croatia's EU aspirations. The Treaty of European Union establishes the procedure for processing a membership application. The relevant provisions state that any European state that respects the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law may submit a membership application to the Council. The Council then forwards the application to the Commission for an Opinion on the applicant's readiness to begin accession negotiations, measured against the criteria set out at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993. Croatia's application for EU membership should be treated in accordance with these provisions.
	Croatia applied for membership on 21 February 2003. The Council forwarded the application to the Commission on 14 April 2003. Croatia's application will be assessed on its merits. Croatia's economic performance has been strong. However, there is still progress to be made in a number of areas, in particular co-operation with the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia, judicial reform, minority rights and refugee returns.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Cuba regarding the cases of (a) Dr. Biscet and (b) J. C. G. Leiva.

Bill Rammell: The UK, along with EU Partners, is deeply concerned by the arrest and detention of peaceful opposition figures in Cuba, including Oscar Elias Biscet and Juan Carlos Leiva. We have repeatedly expressed our concerns to the Cuban Government. The EU has in recent months issued three statements calling for the release of all those imprisoned in Cuba on political grounds and the UK has made clear our strong support for this stance direct to the Cuban authorities.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Turkey's application for status as an EU candidate member of (a) non-compliance with the ECHR judgment in the Loizidou case, (b) the extent to which the elections in occupied Cyprus later this year are fairly conducted and (c) the extent to which the Copenhagen criteria relating to human rights are implemented in occupied Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Denis MacShane: Turkey was granted EU candidate status at the Helsinki summit of 1999.
	We remain strong supporters of Turkey's EU candidacy. We encourage the Turks to continue their process of legislative reforms in order to meet the Copenhagen political criteria, and particularly the priorities set out in the revised Accession Partnership. We will continue to find practical ways to help Turkey implement these reforms.
	We welcome Turkey's recent commitment to pay the compensation awarded by the European Court of Human Rights to Ms Loizidou, by October.
	The promotion and protection of human rights in the north of Cyprus would be best achieved through a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the UN plan. Turkey has repeatedly committed herself to supporting that process.

Cyprus

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on seeking the extradition of British citizens in occupied Cyprus who are wanted by the British police. [R]

Denis MacShane: As the international community, apart from Turkey, does not recognise the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", there is no applicable extradition agreement and therefore no legal basis for the British authorities to seek the extradition of British citizens from the north of Cyprus.

Diplomatic Posts (UK Products)

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy is of his Department regarding the use of goods and products manufactured in the UK by overseas embassies and consulates.

Bill Rammell: All goods and products used by overseas embassies and consulates are purchased in line with FCO purchasing policy.
	FCO purchasing policy is in accordance with the Government's Public Purchasing Consolidated Guidelines, which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and that they should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary.

European Constitution

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the incorporation of the Fundamental Charter for Human Rights into the European Constitution.

Denis MacShane: We have always supported the idea of a clear statement of fundamental rights, freedoms and principles applicable at Union level. Equally, we have always made it clear that incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the constitutional Treaty would have to provide legal clarity and not extend EU competences.
	The Government will reach a final decision about incorporation of the Charter in the context of the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference.

Foreign Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the foreign visits he has made since 1 April 2003; what the dates were; whom he met; what the cost to public funds was of each; and what gifts were received on each.

Jack Straw: holding answer 8 July 2003
	The table lists my overseas visits since 1 April 2003, including details of the main people I met, gifts and cost to public funds (where they are known). Full financial details will be available at the end of the financial year.
	
		
			 Dates Destination Purpose of trip Interlocutors Cost of public funds(if yet available) Gifts received (if any) 
		
		
			 2003  
			 2 to 3 April Berlin and Brussels Bilateral to Berlin and visit to NATO Brussels Berlin: German Foreign MinisterNATO: Russian and Polish Foreign Ministers, NATO Secretary General, US Secretary of State £8,095.71  
			 8 to 9 April Paris and Madrid Bilateral Paris: French Foreign MinisterMadrid: Spanish Foreign Minister £8,688.75  
			 13 to 16 April Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and Riyadh Bilateral Bahrain: King, Foreign Minister, Crown PrinceKuwait: Amir, Foreign Minister, British/US Military and NGOsDoha: Amir, Foreign Minister and British/US MilitaryRiyadh: King, Crown Prince, Foreign Minister Not yet available Bahrain: Porcelain vase and rugQatar: Arabian Oryx statue 
			 16 April Athens Informal European Council and Signature of the Accession Heads of State/Government and Foreign Ministers Not yet available Silver and plate given by the Greek Foreign Minister 
			 17 April Athens European Conference Heads of State/Government and Foreign Ministers Not yet available  
			 24 April Brussels Bilateral French and German Foreign Ministers. EU Secretary-General and High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy £2549.42  
			 2 to 3 May Rhodes, Greece Gymnich (informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers) EU Foreign Ministers £15,953.50 Three jars of olives and two CDs given by the Greek Foreign Minister. 
			 12 to 14 May Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town Bilateral and attendance at the Walter Sisulu memorial service President, Sports Minister, Foreign Minister, opposition leader. Not yet available Shirt and writing pad given on behalf of Nelson Mandela 
			 19 May Brussels GAERC EU Foreign Ministers £3,305.33  
			 22 to 23 May Paris G8 Foreign Ministers meeting G8 Foreign Ministers £2,820.49  
			 3 June Madrid NATO Foreign Ministers meeting NATO Foreign Ministers Not yet available  
			 16 June Luxembourg GAERC EU Foreign Ministers Not yet available  
			 19 to 21 June Porto Carras, Greece European Council and EU/Western Balkans Summit Heads of State/Government and Foreign Ministers Not yet available 
			 29 June to 2 July Tehran, Kabul, Kandahar, Kuwait, Basra and Baghdad Bilateral tour of the region Iran: President, Foreign Minister and Secretary of the Supreme National Security CouncilAfghanistan: President, Foreign Minister, Interior Minister, Gov. of Kandahar and Tribal EldersKuwait: First Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign AffairsIraq, Basra: British TroopsIraq, Baghdad: Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, UN Special Rep for Iraq and Iraqi political representatives Not yet available Rug given by the President of Afghanistan. Rug given by the Interim Administration of Afghanistan

Gripen Jets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department first received allegations of corrupt practice by BAE Systems regarding the supply of a package of Hawk and Gripen jets to the Government of South Africa.

Chris Mullin: The FCO first received allegations against BAE Systems in January 2000. These, and earlier allegations to other Government Departments, were passed to the MOD Police and Metropolitan Police. The latter confirmed that they found insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations. In 1999, routine examinations by the South African Auditor General resulted in allegations of irregularities in the procurement process. Subsequent investigations by South Africa's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and by a specially-convened Joint Investigating Team drawn from three expert bodies, concluded that the primary contracts—including those involving BAE Systems—were sound. The investigations did conclude that there were irregularities inherent in some of the subcontracting procedures, but not those involving BAE Systems.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens detained at Guantanamo Bay were classed as juveniles at the time of detention.

Chris Mullin: None of the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay was classed as juveniles at the time of detention.

Human Rights

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government are taking to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses under the previous regime in Iraq will be brought to justice.

Bill Rammell: We have always believed that those who have been responsible for crimes against humanity should be brought to justice. It is for the Iraqi people to decide how to do this, with suitable international help.
	The Coalition Provisional Authority is establishing an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, one of whose responsibilities will be to provide advice to Iraqis on the handling of these issues.

Indonesia

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the support being given to aid the process of reform that the Indonesian Government is undertaking.

Mike O'Brien: The British Government aim to assist Indonesia in making a success of its democratic reform. A stable, democratic, peaceful Indonesia is important. We support the work of the Governance Partnership, which is undertaking research to help develop a constituency for governance reform, and which is supporting the rule of law, police reform and anti-corruption initiatives. Through the United Nations we will be making a major contribution to the 2004 National and Presidential Elections. We are developing, with the Indonesian Government and the World Bank, a programme to support the establishment of effective local government. The UK has supported the training of judges (we provided human rights training for five Supreme Court Judges in March this year). From our Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) we have supported a free and independent media by holding workshops on security and peace journalism for journalists and editors in Jakarta. We also work through multilateral channels including the EU, Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund for various aspects of reform, including economic reform, democracy building, human rights and conflict prevention.

Iran

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Iran.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Tehran on 29–30 June. He had positive discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues with President Khatami, Foreign Minister Kharrazi, and Dr. Rouhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. The Foreign Secretary also urged Iran to sign and implement immediately and unconditionally an Additional Protocol to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement as a significant first step in creating the necessary confidence in Iran's stated peaceful intentions with regard to its nuclear programme.

Iraq

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many personnel have been deployed by (a) the UK and (b) coalition partners since 9 April 2003 to secure sites identified by the coalition as vital to the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
	No United Kingdom personnel have been deployed to Iraq specifically to secure sites which may be related to programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. UK Commanders in Iraq have been instructed to secure possible chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear hazards, with the aim of making their areas of operations safe for military forces and civilians, and to provide support, as appropriate, to efforts to investigate sites which may be related to programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. Details of deployments of other coalition personnel are a matter for their respective Governments.

Iraq

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on information gathered by the Department's forensic team in Iraq about Iraqi citizens who have disappeared; and what assistance his Department is seeking from human rights organisations in uncovering the fate of such people.

Bill Rammell: We are currently studying the recommendations of the team of forensic experts that we sent to Iraq. Their proposals include establishing an identification programme for bodies found in mass graves. We are in regular contact with human rights organisations on these issues. The Coalition Provisional Authority are setting up an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice in Iraq, whose tasks will include liaison with non-governmental organisations on human rights issues.

Iraq

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will provide for the families of Iraqi citizens who disappeared in Iraq seeking a return of their confiscated property and assets in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: We recognise the past suffering of the Iraqi people, and the grief they have experienced. However, it will be for the Iraqi people to take decisions regarding possible compensation for confiscated property and assets of those who disappeared. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is setting up an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, which will include the issue of the disappeared in its remit. The CPA is working with NGOs and international organisations on proposals to assist in this area, including counselling and advocacy, which might benefit surviving family members.

Iraq

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Committee for the Release of Hostages and Detainees in Iraq to discuss the fate of the disappeared in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Coalition Provisional Authority is leading efforts to identify missing persons throughout Iraq, stemming from the brutal policies of imprisonment and execution under Saddam Hussein. We have already conducted an assessment with the International Commission on Missing Persons, and are working to facilitate the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross and local organisations to create an overall comprehensive database and approach to missing persons. This will include strengthening the capacity of local organisations to feed into this process and provide counselling and community support.
	I would suggest that the Committee for the Release of Hostages and Detainees in Iraq write to my officials in the Iraq Policy Unit in the first instance.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reliability of the information contained in the UNMOVIC working document, Unresolved Disarmament Issues, Iraq's Proscribed Weapons Programme, issued on 6 March.

Denis MacShane: The working document issued on 6 March was read carefully by Ministers and officials.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his speech to the UN Security Council on 7 March
	"I have read . . . all 167 pages of that report in every particular. It's a very painstaking piece of work . . . But it's also a chilling read about the failure of Iraq to comply with successive resolutions of this Council over each day of the past 12 years . . ."

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on delivering peace in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Iraq and the evolving role of the EU, in helping to rebuild Iraq's future, with EU colleagues at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg on 16 June and in the margins of the European Council in Thessaloniki on 19/20 June. At Thessaloniki the EU made a commitment to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq within the framework of UNSCR 1483 and to the development of a prosperous and stable Iraq.

Kenya (Security Risk)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the security and political situation in Kenya and (b) the implications of that situation for UK visitors to Kenya.

Chris Mullin: Kenya is a democratic country and enjoys political stability. In recent months we have been concerned about terrorist activity in Kenya, especially following attacks in Mombasa on 28 November 2002. We last updated our Travel Advice for Kenya on 26 June and are currently advising British nationals to exercise vigilance when visiting the country. The Advice remains under constant review.
	British airlines have resumed flights to Nairobi, but not to Mombasa.

Kosovo

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ethnic Albanians have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for the destruction of Orthodox churches in Kosovo since 20 March.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 879W. There have been no further developments since this time.

Mexico

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British registered companies have been awarded contracts to work on the Plan Puebla-Panama development in Mexico.

Bill Rammell: We are not aware of any British registered companies having been awarded contracts under this initiative.

Nicaragua

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he has proposed the closure of the British Embassy in Nicaragua.

Bill Rammell: Changing strategic priorities require the Foreign and Commonwealth Office constantly to adapt and amend its pattern of representation overseas. In order to free up resources to strengthen the UK's diplomatic network in other parts of the world now more critical for UK interests, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has agreed that over the next three years the FCO should restructure its global diplomatic representation.
	In the Americas, this will be achieved through a small number of post closures, chiefly in Central America. The Foreign Secretary made a written ministerial statement on 21 March 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, announcing the changes. Early next year, our ambassador and his staff in Managua will be withdrawn. We propose to appoint the senior representative from the Department for International Development in Managua as Chargé d'Affaires together with an honorary consul. Our ambassador in San Jose will be accredited to Managua.

Pakistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigation he has made of the conditions in which British prisoners in Pakistan are being held.

Chris Mullin: At present there are nine British prisoners in Pakistan. Our consular staff in Islamabad and Karachi aim to visit British prisoners in Pakistan quarterly to check on their welfare. We do all that we properly can to ensure that detained British nationals are treated in accordance with agreed international human rights standards.

Palestine

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government are taking to ensure that humanitarian organisations have access to the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

Bill Rammell: There have been acute access difficulties in recent months. Our Missions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv work closely with humanitarian agencies on resolving these. We hope that recent positive developments, including the transfer of security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority in parts of Gaza and in Bethlehem, will ease access for humanitarian organisations. But we continue to press Israel to take steps to ensure unfettered access for humanitarian aid. Israel has clear obligations, as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention, to facilitate access to the Occupied Territories for organisations providing aid to those in need.

Uganda

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to initiate and assist international peacekeeping efforts in North East Uganda.

Chris Mullin: We deplore the violence perpetrated against innocent civilians by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the north of Uganda. We sympathise with the Ugandan government's aim of combating the LRA militarily, but we have, through our High Commission in Kampala, encouraged them to consider all alternative methods of bringing the conflict to an end. We are providing humanitarian aid to the people of the north and support to a number of civil society groups engaged on peace issues, including Acholi traditional and religious leaders. We do not believe that the conditions are right for external mediation at this stage.

Private Office Costs

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs have been of Ministers' private offices in his Department in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The cost in cash terms of running the Ministerial Private Offices (Five prior to FY 2001–02 and six since) are laid out in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Costs (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,920,246 
			 1998–99 1,791,783 
			 1999–2000 2,360,535 
			 2000–01 2,341,747 
			 2001–02 2,268,543 
			 2002–03 2,333,481 
			 2003–04 (15)438,096 
		
	
	(15) As of 7 July

Sierra Leone

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many nurses from Sierra Leone have been granted visas to take up NHS posts in the UK (a) in 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Chris Mullin: holding answer 9 July 2003
	The visa section at the British High Commission in Freetown received no applications from Sierra Leoneans seeking to take up employment with the national health service in the United Kingdom in either 2001–02 or 2002–03.
	In the year 2002–03, one student nurse was issued with entry clearance out of a total of two applications received.

Small Arms

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues will be raised by the UK delegation to the UN First Biennial Meeting of States on the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons; who will be representing the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Mike O'Brien) on 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 1188W and on 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 864W.
	The UK delegation will be led by Edward Oakden, Director of International Security at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and David Broucher, UK Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmanent: Geneva.

Solomon Islands

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the United Kingdom is taking to support the implementation of the Townsville Peace Agreement in the Solomon Islands.

Bill Rammell: The UK continues to work closely with the Commonwealth, EU partners and other governments in the region to support reconciliation and reconstruction in the Solomon Islands. We have contributed to the International Peace Monitoring Team, monitoring of the elections in 2001, and the law and order sector. We have supported external appointments to strengthen the judiciary and, at the request of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, the secondment of a Police Commissioner and support staff from Britain to the Royal Solomon Islands Police.
	We remain concerned by the chronic lawlessness which continues to obstruct all efforts towards economic recovery and development. We welcome the proposal for a major new regional initiative, comprising a police contingent with military support, led by Australia and New Zealand, to assist recovery of the Solomon Islands. This initiative has the support of regional governments and has been welcomed by the UN. The Solomon Islands parliament is now considering the proposals. We are considering what further assistance we could provide as part of a coordinated donor effort.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Sudanese Government's adherence to civil and human rights, with special reference to the recent confiscation of the Al Sahafa newspaper.

Chris Mullin: We are concerned about many aspects of human rights in Sudan and monitor the situation closely. Our embassy regularly lobbies the Government of Sudan on human rights, including on press freedom. Most recently, the embassy raised press freedom, including seizures and censorship, with the Director for Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice on 8 July 2003. Press freedom was also raised at the last EU/Sudan dialogue meeting on 19 June 2003.

Terrorism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to European Union Governments about links between terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland and terrorist organisations in other EU countries.

Denis MacShane: The UK regularly exchanges information on terrorist groups with EU partners, both bilaterally and in EU fora, and there is frequent operational co-ordination between security agencies within the EU. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is in regular contact with his colleagues in the Government of Ireland.

Zimbabwe

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the situation in Zimbabwe on the rest of southern Africa.

Chris Mullin: The crisis in Zimbabwe is increasingly damaging regional economies. It has adversely impacted on inflation and interest rates in neighbouring countries. Negative perceptions of Zimbabwe have deterred foreign direct investment and tourism to the region. Zimbabwe's neighbours are also suffering from an influx of cheap Zimbabwean goods and largely unskilled Zimbabwean migrants; and from an increase in the cross border spread of foot and mouth disease.

Zimbabwe

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with President Mbeki about measures to restore democracy and prosperity to Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki and Foreign Minister Zuma during his trip to South Africa on 13 May. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki at the G8 Summit at Evian on 1 June. President Mbeki will be in London for the Progressive Governance Summit on 13–14 July.
	We support South Africa's continuing efforts to bring about dialogue between Zimbabwe's ruling party and the opposition.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority;
	(2)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal which was passed by qualified majority voting;
	(3)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the legislation by year;
	(4)  on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

David Lammy: On no occasion in the period in question has a measure in the area of responsibility of the former Lord Chancellor's Department been adopted against the wishes of the United Kingdom delegation, nor has it been necessary to participate in a blocking minority in the Council of Ministers.

Sexual Activity (Criminalisation)

Evan Harris: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action the Lord Chancellor will take on the compliance of (a) the Isle of Man, (b) Guernsey and (c) Jersey with the recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on criminalisation of sexual activity between men.

David Lammy: We have drawn to the attention of the Insular Authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on these matters and these will be receiving consideration by them.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Disabled People (Cornwall)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of buildings owned by Cornwall county council are accessible by people with physical disabilities.

Keith Hill: It is the responsibility of all local authorities to ensure their public buildings are readily accessible to disabled people.
	The percentage of buildings open to the public and owned by Cornwall county council in which all the public areas are suitable for and accessible to disabled people was 7 per cent. in 2002–03.

Fire and Rescue Service (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what he has estimated the minimum level is of provision on the Isle of Wight appropriate to the maintenance of an adequate fire and rescue service.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no such estimate. Under integrated risk management it will be for fire authorities to set local standards for fire and rescue cover in the light of a full assessment of the risks faced by their communities.

Government Office (North-West)

Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which projects in Warrington have been assisted by the Government Office for the North West in the past year; and what assistance was provided in each case.

Yvette Cooper: The Government Office for the North West has provided a range of assistance to projects in Warrington over the past year including:
	Crime reduction partnership projects
	Small Retailers in Deprived Areas—£14,743
	Safer Communities initiative—£49,559
	Communities Against Drugs—£152,600
	Partnership Development Fund—£16,078
	(This funding is for 2002/3. Government Office North West's role had been to appraise, and monitor the progress of the plans).
	Transport projects
	Bridgefoot Environmental Enhancement Scheme—£980,000
	Warrington Interchange—£1,900,000
	(Funding for these projects did not commence until 2003–04. GONW role was an advisory one in respect of these two major schemes).
	Community Champions Fund
	Older Peoples Forum (Warrington)—£500
	Tourney Green Jubilee Day—£75
	Dallam Senior Youth Club—£1,450
	Westy Parents Forum—£2,326
	Raleigh International (Ghana)—£250
	St. Lewis School Project Croft—£2,000
	Padgate Youth Group—£1,350
	Blackbrook Residents—£1,200
	Hawthorn Harlequins—£2,000
	Cinnamon Brow Garden Project—£500
	Outrington Community Project—£1,000
	Grasmere and Greenwood Residents Association—£476
	Warrington Blues Festival—£1,000
	GLR Productions—£800
	Warrington Media Vol Sect Network—£1,500
	(This funding was from June 2002 to June 2003. Government Office for the North West has responsibility for managing the development and successful delivery of the Community Champions Fund)
	Children's Fund
	Warrington Children's Fund Partnership which commenced in 2003–04 has been allocated £500,000. Government Office for the North West has responsibility for managing the development and successful delivery of the Children's fund.
	Sure Start
	The Sure Start Westy Round 3 scheme, which commenced in 2001 received funding of £500,000 in 2002–03. Government Office for the North West has supported and appraised the development of this project.

Homelessness

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on trends in homelessness among young people (a) in the South West, (b) in Wiltshire and (c) in West Wiltshire.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported by local authorities to end March 2002 included the number of applicants accepted as homeless and in priority need by virtue of being 'vulnerable young people'. The priority needs order which came into force in July 2002 extended the categories of homeless groups who have a priority need for housing, and separately identified 16 and 17-year-olds, and young people aged 18 to 20 previously "in care". A summary of available information is presented in the table.
	
		Applicants accepted as homeless, and priority need category
		
			  South West region UA/DCs in former County of Wiltshire West Wiltshire DC 
			  Total in priority need of which: Vulnerable Young Person Total inpriority need of which: VulnerableYoung Person Total in priority need of which: Vulnerable Young Person 
		
		
			 2000–01 11,360 550 1,366 47 332 13 
			 2001–02 11,270 640 1,237 46 231 15 
			 August-December 2002 6,520 (16)380 627 (16)32 104 (16)21 
		
	
	(16) 16/17-year-olds and ex-Care 18 to 20-year-olds identified from August 2002.
	Note:
	Local authorities only record applicants against the priority need category which was deemed most relevant. Young people may also have been accepted, but not identifiable, within other categories for example "household member pregnant" or "other special reasons".
	Source:
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister P1(E) quarterly housing returns.
	In 2002–03 West Wiltshire received £28,000 from the Homelessness Directorate to help them implement the priority needs order. It also received £50,000 in 2003–04 in support of the Government's action to end the use of B&B hotels for homeless families, except in short-term (less than 6 weeks) emergencies by March 2004, and a further £28,000 this year to support it's homelessness prevention services which include debt counselling/mediation and extending the use of rent deposit schemes.

Homelessness

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what agreements have been reached with Castle Point borough council over the last two years on the reduction of homelessness in the borough; and what (a) targets have been set and (b) funds have been made available.

Yvette Cooper: In accordance with the Homelessness Act 2002, Castle Point borough council have produced a Homelessness Strategy which addresses the needs of the borough. The Strategy also addresses service and performance improvements that the council will need to implement. I am advised that this Strategy will be put to the full council and is expected to be adopted this summer.
	As part of its strategy, the council has entered into an agreement with a local estate agent who procures properties for the council to assist in the accommodation of homeless families. In addition, the council has expanded its housing stock to provide for homeless families: 32 properties are now in use for this purpose. The council proposes to end the use of B&B accommodation for the homeless by the end of 2003–04. I am advised that the council is confident that these measures will result in no homeless families using Bed and Breakfast accommodation, well before March 2004.
	Castle Point borough council has been allocated £25,000 in 2003–04 specifically to help it reduce the number of homeless families with children in Bed and Breakfast hotels. This is in addition to £20,000 to deliver the new Homelessness Need Priority Order and £20,000 from the Homelessness Directorate, to assist in delivering an effective homelessness service.
	The measures and funding detailed above are to assist the authority in meeting the national commitment of ensuring that by March 2004, no homeless family with children is placed in B&B other than in an emergency and even then for no more than six weeks.

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the number of special needs houses in England; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Local housing authorities have a responsibility to produce a housing strategy which sets out plans to address the range of housing needs in their area. This includes all groups with special needs where the strategy must link into the provision of associated support services. Decisions on how these should be addressed are taken locally on the basis of the assessment of the nature and scale of the different housing needs.
	The Housing Corporation through the Approved Development Programme (ADP) provides specially adapted housing and support for the disabled. The Housing Corporation through its National Investment Strategy sets out the priorities against which registered social landlords should bid for resources for the ADP. Included in these priorities are supported housing for people with disabilities. Funding for the ADP has risen to £1.5 billion in 2003–04, £500 million more than in 2002–03.
	Local housing authorities have a statutory duty to offer Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to all eligible applicants who require adaptations to help them live independently in their own homes. The grant is available to disabled homeowners and tenants in both the private and social rented sector, and is subject to a means test. The Government meet 60 per cent. of the total local authority expenditure incurred on DFGs through the payment of specified capital grant. The budget for this grant for English authorities in 2003–04 is £99 million compared with £56 million in 1997–98, an increase of more than 75 per cent.
	In addition, the Supporting People programme provides a strategic framework for commissioning and funding the support services that people need to help them to live independently in their accommodation. Local authorities (county councils in the case of two tier administrations) will be developing Supporting People strategies setting out how they will meet the needs of people in their areas for housing-related support over the next five years. These will consider the needs of all client groups, including people with physical and sensory disabilities, and learning disabilities.

Income Support

Anne Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate how much extra grant would be gained by Cambridgeshire if an additional 1,000 pensioners in the county were in receipt of income support.

Nick Raynsford: In 2003–04 Cambridgeshire county council was one of the authorities who received the maximum increase possible under the 2003–04 floor and ceiling damping scheme i.e. they were a ceiling authority. For this reason if there had been an additional 1,000 pensioners in receipt of income support in the county, although Cambridgeshire's Formula Spending Share would have increased by £524,494, they would have continued to receive the same level of grant. In 2003–04, Cambridgeshire received an increase in formula grant of 8.5 per cent. on a like-for-like basis with 2002–03.

Local Government Reorganisation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) estimated and (b) outturn costs were of each reorganisation of the local government structure since 1980.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the reviews in the 1990's supplementary credit approvals (SCAs)—totalling some £492 million—were given to authorities affected by reorganisation to enable them to borrow money to meet the one off indirect costs of reorganisation.

Local Government Reorganisation

Robert Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to be incurred in the re-organisation of local government in (a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber if the region approves the creation of a regional assembly.

Nick Raynsford: The costs of such local government reorganisation will depend on what boundary and structural changes are involved and on future decisions by the local authorities concerned.

Mobile Phone Masts

Jim Dowd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sanctions can be imposed on a network operator who erects a transmitter in breach of the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development to which they are a signatory.

Keith Hill: The Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Developments was produced jointly by representatives of central and local Government and the mobile phone industry and built on Government guidance and the operators' commitments. The Code of Best Practice is non-statutory and does not purport to give definitive interpretation of the legal planning requirements, which is ultimately a matter for the courts. Therefore, there are no sanctions that can be imposed on a network operator who erects a transmitter in breach of the Code.
	The Mobile Operators Association have commissioned Deloitte and Touche to carry out an independent review of the implementation of the Operators Ten Commitments. The results of the review will be made publicly available in due course.

Poverty (London)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has to reduce the levels of poverty in London; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Increasing opportunity and improving the delivery of public services to our most deprived communities is the cornerstone to our approach for tackling poverty wherever it occurs. The Local Strategic Partnerships in the 20 most deprived London boroughs will receive almost £350 million between April 2001 and March 2006 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to improve services to tackle poverty and deprivation in London.
	London will also receive over £500 million over 10 years through the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme. 10 of England's 39 NDC areas are in London—West Ham & Plaistow, Shoreditch, and Ocean in Tower Hamlets, New Cross Gate in Lewisham, EC1 in Islington, Aylesbury, Clapham Park, North Fulham, Seven Sisters and South Kilburn. European Structural Funds have made £570 million available over seven years in support of disadvantaged groups and areas in London.
	These are just three examples of Government action to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the capital.

Social Housing

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the availability of social housing.

Keith Hill: The number of social housing dwellings provided by local authorities and registered social landlords for rent in England in 2002 was 4.2 million out of a total dwelling stock of 21.3 million.
	New social housing dwellings are provided through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme with grants to registered social landlords. Funding for the programme is increasing by £500 million this year to around £1.5 billion. The programme is expected to deliver at least 21,000 dwellings in 2003–04 for both rent and low cost home ownership.

Sustainable Development

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of bids made for (i) grants and (ii) contracts awarded by his Department; who makes such assessments; and whether these assessments are published.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gives grants to a variety of bodies for a variety of activities. Bids are made and assessed by officials against published criteria, which are drawn up to be compatible with the aims of sustainable development, and would include, where necessary, an environmental impact assessment. Assessments of grant bids by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are not published.
	Similarly, contracts awarded by this Office are compatible with the aims of sustainable development and in accordance with the Government's Sustainable Development Framework. Contracts let refer to our Greening Operations statement and seek evidence from suppliers concerning their environmental credentials. Assessments are made by officials in this Office and are not published on a project by project basis. However, our Greening Operations statement is published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Street Children

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how many street children there are in South America; in which South American countries they are located; and how many street children there are in each country.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government fully share the hon. Member's concern about the plight of street children in South America. The rights of children worldwide are a central part of our human rights policy. We monitor the situation of street children throughout South America carefully in dialogue with regional governments and NGOs; as does the EU. However the nature of the problem is such that it is very difficult to know precisely how many street children there are in individual South American countries.

HEALTH

Old People's Homes

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to improve the level of care in old people's homes; and what measures have been taken since 2001.

Stephen Ladyman: Under the Care Standards Act 2000, since April 2002 all care homes in England have been regulated by the National Care Standards Commission in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards.
	Our regulatory reforms provide, for the first time, an independent coherent, consistent and even-handed regulatory system for care homes. The reforms will help to prevent abuse and promote better quality care.

Anti-depressants

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton are taking anti-depressant drugs.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of people taking anti-depressant drugs is not available. However, information is provided on the number of prescription items of anti-depressant drugs dispensed in the community.
	In 2002, 26.3 million prescription items of anti-depressant drugs were dispensed in the community in England and 186,500 prescription items of anti-depressant drugs were dispensed in the community in Sefton.
	Information relating to Wales and Scotland is a matter for the Devolved Administrations to respond to. While the institution for Northern Ireland is dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.

Attendance Allowances

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in attendance allowances to members of (a) health authorities, (b) hospital trusts and (c) primary care trusts in England in each of the last 10 financial years; and how much he estimates will be allocated in the current financial year.

John Hutton: Information on remuneration paid by national health service bodies to chairs and non-executive directors is not collected by the Department. Based on the number of chairs and non-executives now in post, chairs and non-executives will be entitled to receive the following annual remuneration in the current financial year:
	
		Annual remuneration -- £ millions
		
			  Chairs Non-executives Total 
		
		
			 Primary care trusts 5.44 8.86 14.3 
			 NHS trusts 4.66 6.90 11.56 
			 Strategic health authorities 0.59 0.97 1.56 
			 Total 10.69 16.73 27.42

Prescribing

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research to assess the financial costs and benefits in areas of responsibility of relevant Government Departments of a more liberal prescribing regime for anti-impotence drugs.

Rosie Winterton: We have no current plans to commission such research. The policy on provision of anti-impotence treatments was reviewed in 2001.

Birthrate Survey

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Birthrate Plus survey.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Birthrate Plus system for computing staffing requirements for maternity units. [R]

Stephen Ladyman: We welcome the development of Birthrate Plus, which provides a demand led framework for assessing midwife staffing requirements. It is for individual units and trusts to decide whether it is appropriate for them to use it.

Breast Cancer

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to prevent discrimination in the treatment of older people with breast cancer.

Stephen Ladyman: Standard One of the older people's national service framework (NSF) sets out the general commitment to address age discrimination in access to health and social care. The requirement to provide treatment and care on the basis of clinical need, and not age alone, applies equally to the treatment of breast cancer. Since the publication of the NSF in March 2001, significant progress has been made in starting to tackle age discrimination and there is a now a wider appreciation and awareness across health and social care of age discrimination as an issue.
	In November last year, we released a computerised information tool to enable those implementing the NSF at local level to compare their treatment rates in 10 different hospital procedures, in relation to different age groups. This included information on the local age related intervention rates of breast cancer treatment.

Cancer Nursing

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the costs of NHS trusts employing agency cancer nurses relative to cancer nurses in permanent NHS posts in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: The information is not collected centrally.

Cancer Nursing

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) the recruitment and (b) the retention of cancer nurses at (i) NHS trust and (ii) primary care trust level.

John Hutton: The Government are implementing a range of measures to improve recruitment and retention of all staff, including cancer nurses. These include an increase in pay, encouraging the national health service to become a better employer through the Improving Working Lives and Positively Diverse programmes, increasing training commissions, reducing student attrition, running national and local recruitment and return to practice campaigns and supporting international recruitment where appropriate.
	Since 1997, the qualified nursing workforce has grown by nearly 50,000. Between September 2001 and September 2002, there was a net increase in nurses working in the NHS of 17,100 (headcount). The NHS Plan target for nurses has been reached two years early. In addition, over 13,000 qualified nurses have returned to practice in the NHS since 1999.

Chemical Attacks (Preparations)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts do not have the stocks of chemical, biological and radiological protective equipment recommended by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: All acute national health service acute and ambulance trusts have been issued with personal protective equipment with the exception of Staffordshire Ambulance NHS trust.
	Staffordshire Ambulance NHS trust has not been issued with new personal protective equipment as it has shown it can operate effectively with adapted military techniques with its existing equipment.

Clinical Diagnostics

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the part that clinical diagnostics play in (a) improving health care, (b) improving treatment outcomes and (c) reducing overall health care costs to the NHS; and if he will make it his policy to raise awareness of the role of diagnostics in health care delivery.

John Hutton: Clinical diagnostics is a key component of health maintenance and disease management. Accurate clinical diagnoses enable early intervention and appropriate choice of treatments helping to manage national health service costs. Clinical diagnostics underpins key principles in the NHS Plan and work is under way nationally to support improvement in this area.

Commission forPublic Patient Involvement in Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff will be employed by the Commission for Public Patient Involvement in Health at (a) national head office, (b) regional offices and (c) primary care trust level; and what their cost will be.

Rosie Winterton: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health intends to employ around 50 staff at its head office and up to 17 staff in each of its nine regional offices. It will not be directly employing staff at primary care trust level—rather it will be contracting with third party providers to support patients' forums locally. The total estimated cost for staff in the current financial year will be in the region of £5 million.

Commission for Social Care Inspection

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define the term 'reasonable fee' under clause 84(2) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill; and if he will set a maximum fee that can be charged under clause 84(3).

Stephen Ladyman: It will be the responsibility of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to determine what is a reasonable fee under clause 84(2) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill (as introduced, now clause 81(2) as amended by committee). The CSCI will be free to decide which of its reports should be issued without charge. In general, it is Government policy that the cost of providing such services should be met by those who use them.
	It is not intended that the Secretary of State will introduce a maximum fee that can be charged under clause 84(3) (81(3) as amended by committee) of the same Bill.

Communicable Diseases

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are suffering from (a) tuberculosis and (b) pulmonary tuberculosis in each primary care trust; and how many staff each trust employs to oversee their treatment in the community.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency are responsible for collecting data on tuberculosis notifications. Information can be found at http://www. phls.co.uk/topics az/tb.
	Data cannot yet be provided by primary care trust.
	The number of staff employed is not held centrally.

Contingency Plans

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have not conducted a practical exercise to test their major incident plan.

John Hutton: Every national health service trust is required to test its contingency plans and satisfy its health authority (HA) that they are effective. Earlier this year all HAs reported that they were satisfied with the plans of NHS trusts. The health emergency planning advisers of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) facilitate exercises for the NHS. Details of these exercises are being collated by the HPA. Summaries of the outcomes of the exercises will be disseminated across the NHS to share good practice.

Doctors (Home Visits)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the minimum standards are for out of hours on call doctors (a) to speak by telephone to a patient and (b) to visit a patient at home.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 June 2003
	Following the Carson Review in 2000, standards for out-of-hours primary medical services are set by regulations. These require patients to be clinically assessed within 30 minutes of their telephone call. If that assessment determines that a doctor needs to visit a patient at home, emergencies must be visited within an hour, urgent cases within two hours and less urgent cases within six hours.

Drug/Alcohol Dependency

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who presented to treatment services for drugs and alcohol problems in the last 12 months had mental health problems.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not available centrally. However, the importance of providing services for drug and alcohol misusers is well recognised. Research suggests that there is extensive co-occurrence of other psychiatric disorders and substance misuse problems.

Drug/Alcohol Dependency

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are (a) in place and (b) planned to identify the extent to which those with drugs or alcohol problems also suffer mental health problems.

Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health publication, "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" (2002), sets out policy and good practice in the provision of mental health services for people with severe mental health problems who are also experiencing difficulties with any drug, including alcohol.
	The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), in partnership with the Department, has published "Models of Care", which sets out a national framework for the commissioning of an integrated drug treatment system for adult drug misusers in England. "Models of Care" provides detailed guidance on the provision of services for psychiatric co-morbidity (dual diagnosis).
	A national programme, entitled Opening Doors to Drug Treatment, is also being delivered in partnership by the NTA and the National Institute for Mental Health in England.

Dysphasia

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to support self-help groups for people with aphasia;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase funding for services used by people with dysphasia;
	(3)  what steps the Government have taken to support Connect centres for those suffering with dysphasia; and if he plans to extend them to (a) other parts of the country and (b) Oxfordshire.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) now have the responsibility of improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services.
	In making their commissioning decisions, PCTs will need to consider how best to use a range of providers for the benefit of national health service patients. PCTs may fund local support groups for a range of conditions including aphasia and dysphasia, if they have identified this as a need when assessing the health needs of the local community. They will need also to consider how best to use voluntary sector providers.
	"Connect" is a voluntary sector organisation, which is free to apply for Section 64 grant scheme funding at national or local level. The development of their centres is primarily a matter for them.

Dysphasia

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to provide funding for computer-based therapy programmes for people with dysphasia.

John Hutton: It is for local clinicians and primary care trusts to consider the use of particular clinical approaches, and their funding, in the provision of local services.

Emergency Planning

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) mobile decontamination units and (b) personal protective equipment suits have been given to each Ambulance Service NHS Trust; and what representations he has received on the condition of this equipment.

John Hutton: The table shows the provision of mobile decontamination units and personal protective suits (PPE) to each national health service ambulance trust in England from the overall allocation to the NHS of £5 million in 2002–03.
	
		
			 Ambulance Service NHS trusts Mobile decontamination units PPE suits 
		
		
			 Avon Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic Service 4 100 
			 Cumbria Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Dorset Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 East Anglian Ambulance Service 8 200 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Essex Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Gloucestershire Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Greater Manchester Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Hampshire Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service 4 50 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare 4 100 
			 Kent Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Lancashire Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Lincolnshire Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 London Ambulance Service 14 350 
			 Mersey Regional Ambulance Service 8 200 
			 North East Ambulance Service 8 200 
			 Oxfordshire Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Staffordshire Ambulance Service 0 0 
			 Surrey Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Sussex Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service 6 150 
			 Two Shires Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Warwickshire Ambulance Service 1 70 
			 West Midlands Ambulance Service 3 75 
			 West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 West Country Ambulance Services 16 400 
			 Wiltshire Ambulance Service 4 100 
			 Total 166 4,145 
		
	
	Note:
	Staffordshire Ambulance Service has not been issued with new PPE equipment, as it has shown it can operate effectively with adapted military techniques with its existing equipment.
	The Department was informed of some early operational problems, which have been rectified.

Food Additives

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process is in place to enable the assessment of interactions between food additives individually approved for use in food products.

Melanie Johnson: All food additives undergo a rigorous safety assessment by European Union and United Kingdom scientific committees prior to approval. As part of the approval process, a maximum permitted level of use is set to ensure that intakes do not exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI). An ADI is the amount of an additive that can be consumed on a daily basis over a lifetime without causing any adverse health effects. For groups of additives having a similar biological mode of action, the ADI is set for the group as a whole, thereby taking account of possible interactions.

Food Supplements

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency is seeking to permit for sale products which are not included in the Food Supplements Directive list of permitted ingredients, but are recognised as safe and appropriately labelled.

Melanie Johnson: The Government have already secured provisions which enable member states to allow the continued sale of products which do not comply with the Directive's compositional requirements up to 31 December 2009 provided certain criteria are met. The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, which implement the Directive in England, make full use of this flexibility.
	In addition, the Food Standards Agency is urgently seeking a meeting with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and relevant interest groups to discuss the content of safety dossiers for those vitamins and minerals and their sources currently excluded from the permitted lists. The EFSA has responded positively and we expect a meeting to be arranged within the next couple of months.

Food Supplements

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assurances he has received that the assessment being compiled by the EU Scientific Committee for Foods about the Upper Safe Limit intake of vitamins and minerals is based on scientific evidence; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The European Community Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) established a task force of independent experts with expertise in medicine, nutrition, toxicology, biology, chemistry and related disciplines. The approach taken by the SCF task force in reviewing the upper levels of daily intakes of individual vitamins and minerals is based on an internationally agreed risk assessment model. This process takes into account all relevant scientific evidence. Following the formation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), this work will be completed by the new EFSA expert panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies, which will be advised by the former SCF task force. The report of the United Kingdom expert group on vitamins and minerals on safe upper levels for vitamins and minerals has been sent to EFSA to be considered by the EFSA panel.

Food Supplements

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why (a) sodium and calcium ascorbate, and (b) sodium, potassium and calcium hydroxide have been included on the positive list in Annex II of the EU Food Supplements Directive; and why magnesium ascorbate has not been included.

Melanie Johnson: The list of permitted nutrients in Schedule 2 to the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is drawn directly from the list of permitted vitamins and minerals in Annex II to the Food Supplements Directive. This list was drawn directly from established lists in existing Community food legislation.
	The annexes to the Food Supplements Directive remain open, pending safety assessment of additional substances on the basis of dossiers submitted in support of the safe use of substances currently omitted from the annexes.

Food Supplements

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 720W, on food supplements, what representations he has received from BioCare since 1 January 2003.

Melanie Johnson: No such representations have been received from BioCare. However, since 1 January 2003, correspondence has been received from an hon. Member and from a Member of the European Parliament referring to representations from BioCare. My hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State (Ms Blears) responded on 1 April and 1 March respectively, explaining the rationale for establishment of the list in Annex II to the Directive, indicating that the Government are doing what they can to facilitate submission of dossiers supporting additions to the list and committing the Government to continuing to press for a safety-based approach to setting of European Union maximum limits in order to prevent unnecessary restrictions to consumer choice.

Food Supplements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the conclusions were of the Regulatory Impact Assessment undertaken by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the Food Supplements (England) Regulations; and what steps he intends to take to address the issues of those missing nutrients which pose a threat to the UK food supplements industry.

Melanie Johnson: The United Kingdom is obliged to implement the provisions of Directive 2002/46/EC into national legislation. The conclusions of the regulatory impact assessment undertaken in relation to the Food Supplement (England) Regulations 2003 were that making the current Regulations was the best option available. It maintains the widest possible consumer choice of safe and properly labelled food supplements consistent with the Directive, and imposes the minimum burden on industry.
	The lists of permitted vitamins/minerals and their sources in the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 can be extended if additions are made to the permitted lists in the annexes to the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC on which the Regulations are based. These annexes remain open pending safety assessment of additional vitamins and minerals and their sources. Industry is currently working to compile safety dossiers for some of the vitamins and minerals and their sources currently omitted from the Annexes.
	The Food Standards Agency, in recognition of the difficulties associated with dossier production, and the timescale for dossier submission, is pressing the European Food Safety Authority for an urgent, substantive meeting with relevant parties to discuss dossier requirements.

Foundation Hospitals

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that information collected about patients as part of the charging policy on insurance payments within foundation hospitals (a) will not be passed to other agencies and (b) will meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

John Hutton: The requirement to provide information necessary to administer the proposed scheme for recovery of national health service charges, set out in Part 3 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, would apply to NHS foundation trusts in the same way as any other NHS hospital. The provisions in the Bill for the collection of patient information for the scheme comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. They do not allow patient information to be passed to other agencies but do allow the compensation recovery unit, which administers the existing state benefits recovery scheme and is expected to administer the NHS costs recovery scheme, to share information between the two schemes where it is appropriate to do so.

Foundation Hospitals

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Co-operative Party and other bodies in the wider Co-operative movement on foundation hospitals.

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), has met the hon. Members who are involved in the Co-operative movement. A number of leading experts in the co-operative movement are members of the External Reference Group on Governance, which is providing applicants for national health service foundation trust status expert advice on governance issues.

GM Products

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what GM products are used in (a) fish feed for farmed fish and (b) fishmeal contained in feedstuffs for ruminants.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 July 2003
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that feed for farmed fish consists primarily of fishmeal and fish oil, although feed producers have been turning increasingly to vegetable ingredients such as maize gluten feed and soya bean meal. Whether this is likely to contain a proportion of genetically modified-derived material will depend on its source, although I understand that the fish farming industry endeavours to avoid the use of GM or GM-derived ingredients.
	The feeding of fishmeal to ruminants is currently prohibited as part of European Union controls on the use of processed animal protein in animal feed. Fishmeal is solely derived from fish and at present, genetically modified fish are only reared and kept under laboratory conditions.

GP Survey

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the results of the NHS GP survey; what plans he has to act on the findings; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Information from patient surveys is central to informing local service improvements. We expect primary care trusts to use the information from the national health service general practitioner survey to develop action plans to improve services to better meet the needs of local people.
	Results were disseminated in March 2003, on a strategic health authority (SHA) basis. This enabled the cross-comparison of the results, for local benchmarking purposes. Such an approach enables the SHAs, as the local headquarters of the NHS, to maintain an overview of how results are formulated into local follow-up plans.

Health Records

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking against hospital trusts who fail to keep the records of patients with lifelong conditions for the required period after their deaths; and if he will make statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department of Health does not directly monitor or enforce record-keeping arrangements in national health service trusts or strategic health authorities (SHA). Each NHS trust and SHA is legally responsible for managing records and complying with legislation and guidance on disclosing information.
	In the NHS, guidance and governance arrangements have been designed to ensure compliance with law and good practice, while minimising the overheads of managing and auditing detailed procedures. Independent authorities, such as the Audit Commission, Health Service Commissioner and Information Commissioner, oversee the governance arrangements and may impose sanctions where there is a significant failure to comply.
	Trusts keep records to support patient care and other legal requirements, but it is also necessary to destroy records when they are of no further value. Destruction should be controlled by formal retention and disposal arrangements based on the NHS Retention and Disposal Schedule issued by the Department of Health.

Hip Replacements

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip replacements were performed in (a) England, (b) South Sefton, (c) Southport and (d) Formby in each year since 2000.

John Hutton: The table shows the number of hip replacement operations carried out in each year since 2000 in the appropriate national health service trusts and the total number of hip replacement operations carried out in England. Southport and Formby are covered by the same NHS trust, so figures are not available separately.
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where a hip replacement operation was recorded as the main operation
		
			   Total number ofepisodes 
			 Place Trust 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 South Sefton Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust 326 330 
			 Southport/Formby Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 325 374 
			 England  70,258 72,241 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.
	2001–02 is the last year for which figures are currently available.

Hospital Dispensing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals do not have one stop dispensing or dispensing for discharge schemes.

Rosie Winterton: "Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan" sets out an agenda for change in the hospital pharmaceutical service, which includes the re-engineering of services, putting more emphasis on to clinical services, self administration schemes, the continued use of patient's own medication and dispensing for discharge.
	Results from the Department's Medicines Management Performance Framework and from the Audit Commission report, "A Spoonful of Sugar", suggest that the majority of trusts have introduced dispensing for discharge, or one stop dispensing, where appropriate. More detailed information is not collected centrally.
	The next revision of the Medicines Management Framework is expected later this year and will build on current good practice.
	"Pharmacy in the Future" made a commitment to establish a collaborative programme to share and spread best practice. The Department is exploring options for delivery including discussions with the National Prescribing Centre and other stakeholders.

Maternal and Child Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of merging the confidential inquiry into maternal deaths and the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy.

Stephen Ladyman: The cost of merging the two inquiries during 2002–03 was £130,000. The merger will bring an annual saving of around £800,000, which is being re-deployed to extend the remit of other confidential inquiries.

Maternal and Child Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations are being conducted in the Confidential Inquiry into Maternal and Child Health.

Rosie Winterton: There have been two consultations on the constitution and structure of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH). The first took place in 2001, following the overall review of the confidential inquiries carried out by Sir John Grimley-Evans in 2000. The second consultation, on the specific constitution and structure of CEMACH, took place from October to December 2002.

Maternity Care

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total clinical negligence bill in obstetrics and gynaecology was in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the total clinical negligence bill in obstetrics and gynaecology is not collected centrally.

Media Training

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for Ministers and officials in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: While media training is offered to Ministers and officials, the cost of providing this training is not separately identified in the Department's records.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been detained under each relevant section of the Mental Health Acts in each of the last five years, broken down by ethnic group.

Rosie Winterton: This particular data is not collected. The most recent data on the ethnicity of those detained under the Mental Health Act is issued by the Mental Health Act Commission in their Biennial Report for 1999–2001.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Mental Health Act data Census data 
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 1991 
			  (n = 33,552) (n = 35,097) (n = 40,024)  
		
		
			  
			  
			 Ethnic Group 
			 White 83.3 85.0 88.2 94.5 
			 Black Caribbean 6.2 5.2 3.6 0.9 
			 Black African 2.5 2.4 1.7 0.4 
			 Black other 2.0 1.5 1.1 0.3 
			 Indian 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5 
			 Pakistani 1.0 1.4 1.2 0.9 
			 Bangladeshi 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 
			 Chinese 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 
			 Other Groups 2.5 2.4 2.1 0.9 
		
	
	The Mental Health Act Commission Biennial Report for 2002–2003 will be issued in October 2003 and will contain an updated table.

Mental Health

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on mental health costs in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton in each of the last five years; and what he estimates will be spent on mental health costs in the next (i) five years and (ii) 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows expenditure on mental illness by health authorities (HAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) for England and for the Sefton HA area. Expenditure relates to the commissioning of secondary care services for mental health only.
	
		Mental illness expenditure -- £000
		
			  Sefton health authority area England 
		
		
			 1997–98 11,814 2,767,036 
			 1998–99 12,977 2,925,934 
			 1999–2000 17,688 3,408,660 
			 2000–01 (17)75,006 3,951,618 
			 2001–02 (17)83,492 4,561,000 
		
	
	(17) Sefton commissioned secure mental health services on behalf of all health authorities in the north-west; hence its exceptional spend in 2000–01 and 2001–02.
	Estimated figures for future expenditure are not available. PCTs have been allocated resources for 2003–04 to 2005–06. These allocations are in line with the Planning and Priorities Framework, which in turn, reflects the commitments made in the NHS Plan.

National Care Standards Commission

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget is of the National Care Standards Commission in 2003–04; and what its outturn in budget was in 2002–03.

Stephen Ladyman: The revenue budget of the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) in 2003–04 is £129.949 million. The amount of the capital budget for 2003–04 has not yet been finalised.
	The outturn of the NCSC's revenue and capital budgets in 2002–03 were £108.720 million and £7.775 million, respectively.

Needle Exchange Schemes

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on needle exchange schemes for drug addicts.

Melanie Johnson: The United Kingdom adopted harm minimisation strategies in the early 1990s as a preventive measure for HIV/AIDS. Needle exchange schemes were developed as part of the strategy. Over 90 per cent. of primary care trusts in England have needle exchange programmes and over 27 million needles and syringes are exchanged each year.
	On international comparisons, we have been very successful in holding down levels of HIV/AIDS within the high-risk group of injecting drug users.

Negligence Claims

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of negligence claims against the NHS involving children in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the cost of negligence claims involving children is not collected centrally.

NHS Drugs Scheme

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been saved each year by the national health service as a result of the Selected List of NHS Drugs Scheme.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 July 2003
	The Selected List Scheme was introduced in 1985 and the savings to the national health service have been estimated at £75 million a year.

Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Single Assessment Process as referred to on page 172 of the National Service Framework for Older People.

Stephen Ladyman: Detailed guidance on the single assessment process for older people was published in January 2002. Since then, primary care trusts and councils, in consultation with a range of local interests, have been implementing the guidance. All localities reviewed their progress during the summer of 2002 and reported to their strategic health authorities. Where appropriate, information from these reports was shared with the Social Services Inspectorate (further progress reports for 2003 are being finalised).
	As part of the routine monitoring of councils' performance, the Social Services Inspectorate pays particular attention to the single assessment progress. In January and February 2003, the Department of Health held two implementation conferences for all those leading the implementation of the single assessment process at local level. Final implementation is planned for April 2004.

Organ Donation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the introduction of an opt-out scheme for organ donation in the UK; and what targets have been set to increase the number of people carrying donor cards.

Rosie Winterton: Government policy on organ donation is one of informed consent, not presumed consent (opt out). The Government have been reviewing the law on the removal, retention and use of human tissues and organs and tissues. A report on the responses on the consultation document 'Human Bodies, Human Choices' was published in April 2003. New legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
	"Saving Lives, Valuing Donors—A Transplant Framework for England", was published on 7 July 2003. It sets out key aims for organ and tissue transplantation over the next 10 years. This framework identifies the part that the Government, individuals, the national health service and other stakeholders can play in:
	Encouraging people to donate organs and tissues
	Raising the quality and effectiveness of transplant services
	Improving the clinical outcomes and quality of life of people who receive the gift of an organ or tissue
	Increasing the supply of viable organs and tissues for transplantation
	Accrediting tissue banks to ensure high-quality tissues for transplantation.
	Its aims include encouraging the NHS and others to play their part in ensuring that at least 16 million people are registered on the NHS Organ Donor Register by 2010.

Osteoporosis and Related Fractures

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue calcium and vitamin D free to the institutionalised elderly; and what he estimates the cost would be in a year.

Stephen Ladyman: Under the National Minimum Standards that apply to care homes for older people, special therapeutic diets should be provided when advised by health care and dietetic staff, including adequate provision of calcium and vitamin D. No estimates of cost have been made.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for each NHS trust the (a) status, (b) number of staff and (c) budget of its Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

Rosie Winterton: A recent mapping exercise completed in January 2003 showed that 98 per cent. of all trusts had a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) in place. Individual trusts are responsible for establishing and resourcing PALS. The Department does not hold details of the number of staff working within individual trust PALS or their budgets.

Private Finance Initiative

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) general and (b) community hospitals (i) have been built and (ii) are scheduled to be built under PFI contracts since 1997.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan committed us to opening over 100 new hospital schemes in total between 2000 and 2010. Currently, there are 114 hospital schemes counting towards the 100 target, of which 104 will be built under the Private Finance Initiative. Of the 104, 32 are now operational, of which 31 are general and one community. A further 17 are under construction, of which 13 are general and four community. Within the 104, there are another five planned community hospitals.
	The NHS Plan also set out plans for the modernisation of primary healthcare. 42 national health service local investment finance trust sites are being developed, which will bring in over £1 billion of investment. Much of this investment will provide community hospital services, for example, day case surgery, diagnostic services, oncology and physiotherapy.

Salt Consumption

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the consumption of salt by children; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: We have not received any specific representations on the consumption of salt by children.
	In 2001, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed to consider the issue of salt and health, at the request of the Food Standards Agency and the Chief Medical Officer for Wales. In response to SACN's call for submissions, the Co-op, Safeway, British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Food and Drink Federation (PDF) and the Salt Manufacturers Association (SMA) acknowledged that there was a need to assess salt in childhood and/or provide guidance. Submissions are on the SACN website (sacn.gov.uk).
	The draft SACN report on salt and health underwent a period of consultation at the end of 2002. Responses are posted on the SACN website. All responses to the consultation were fully considered by the SACN salt sub-group. The minority of organisations who queried the basis of the salt targets for children did so on the extent of the evidence available and the methods used by the sub-group to establish salt targets for children. The sub-group's deliberations are minuted on the SACN website.

Sewel Motions

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list Sewel motions passed by the Scottish Parliament since May 1999 that apply to his Department's responsibilities and Government bills he has sponsored.

John Hutton: Of the bills sponsored by the Department, or which fell to the Department's responsibility, the following were the subject of a Sewel motion on the dates indicated:
	Food Standards Act 1999 1 —23 June 1999
	Care Standards Act 2000—22 June 2000
	Health and Social Care Act 2001—17 January 2001
	Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002—17 January 2001
	Adoption and Children Act 2002—4 April 2001, 24 October 2001 and 30 January 2002
	NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002— 22 November 2001
	Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill—19 June 2003
	1 This Bill was previously the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Smallpox Vaccine

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many smallpox vaccines he expects to procure through (a) the first and (b) the second tranche of the order; when he expects to take delivery of both tranches of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Increasing vaccine stocks is part of the Department's strategy in providing the maximum possible protection to the public and ensuring that the national health service can deal safely with any potential smallpox cases.
	The Department of Health has taken full delivery of the first smallpox vaccine procurement. The procurement process for the second tranche of smallpox vaccines will be completed shortly.
	We have sufficient stocks of smallpox vaccine, which would be rapidly deployed to contain any outbreak. We are planning for every eventuality and this includes the ability to vaccinate the entire population if necessary.

Speech Therapy

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on increasing the number of universities offering degrees in speech and language therapy.

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not had discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about increasing the number of universities offering degrees in speech and language therapy. Commissioning for training in speech and language therapy is a matter for the workforce development confederations (WDCs) to agree with local service providers. In making commissions decisions, WDCs are guided by recommendations from the national Workforce Numbers Advisory Board.

Staff Costs

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff the Department and each Agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years.

Rosie Winterton: Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service are collected from Departments and Agencies twice-yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2002 were published on 27 February 2003.
	A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available on the world wide web at: www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics Copies of these documents are available in the Library.
	More detailed information on the Civil Service is published annually in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, was published in June 2002. The next edition, based on April 2002 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2003.
	The Cabinet Office publishes information on non-departmental public bodies in its annual publication, "Public Bodies". The information includes details of the number of staff employed by each NDPB at 31 March each year. "Public Bodies 2002" was published in January 2003. Copies of "Public Bodies" published each year since 1997 are available in the Library.
	The information on staff costs is published in the Department of Health's Annual Report. Copies of the document are also available in the Library.

Total Quality Management

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of national health service trusts use total quality management systems to improve patient satisfaction with services.

Rosie Winterton: There is no prescriptive total quality management framework for this. There is considerable freedom therefore for trusts to build strategies and deliver services that are appropriate for that location in partnership with patients and the local community.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he plans to make to representations from the President of the Royal College of Surgeons on the services provided by Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Stephen Ladyman: The concerns of the President of the Royal College of Surgeons about services provided by Worcestershire Royal Hospital are being investigated by West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority (SHA). I understand that the SHA and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust are planning to meet the President of the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss his concerns on 16 July 2003.